No Way Back

What happens to asylum seekers when the Home Office does not grant asylum and appeals are unsuccessful?

They usually receive a letter informing them they must leave Britain. Those that do not leave voluntarily are issued ‘removal directions’, where the authorities arrange a date and time for ‘removal’.

But what about those who have ‘no safe route’ back to their home country?

The home Office is currently not returning ‘failed’ Iraqi asylum seekers for this reason, yet they are still not entitled to work, help with housing or to claim benefits. Iraqis in this position can apply for temporary ‘hard case support’, also known as Section 4 support, from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), if they have previously been supported by NASS.

In order to receive the support (a bed, and either three meals a day or food vouchers for supermarkets) they must show they are willing to return voluntarily when a safer route is available.

However, many are reluctant to sign up and it is perhaps not surprising. The level of support is basic and inadequate. The limited number of supermarkets which accept the vouchers do not stock halal meat. The asylum seekers receive no money so cannot pay the bus fare to see friends or get to college.

Further, under Section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 2004, failed asylum seekers will soon be required to work full time, unpaid, carrying out ‘community service’ or ‘activities’ in exchange for this basic support.

The Refugee Council and other agencies think ‘failed’ asylum seekers should be given temporary status and the right to work. Indeed, they want to work and help the community but not in this demeaning manner.

by Kate Atkinson

There are many Iraqi Kurds in Burngreave who have ‘no safe route’ home. The Messenger has heard that many are destitute, after refusing to sign up for Section 4 support. Fears run high that signing an agreement to return home will mean they can be picked up at any time and returned to Iraq or placed in a detention centre.

Ahmed Saleem, Advice Worker from the Kurdish Community Centre on Verdon Street said, “We have around three thousand Kurdish asylum seekers and refugees in Sheffield. Many here are in fear of their lives in returning to Iraq and therefore won’t sign Section 4 voluntarily but many then find themselves forced into signing it.”