‘Ridiculous’ deportation process leaves hundreds of unsuccessful applicants destitute

Hundreds of failed asylum seekers are ending up destitute on Britain’s streets due to a serious failure in the government’s system for deporting them.

A Housing Today investigation has found that people who have had applications for asylum turned down by the Home Office, but who come from countries the government deems not safe to return to – such as Iraq and Zimbabwe – are sleeping rough and cut off from support services.

Although the exact number of homeless failed asylum seekers is not known, organisations working with them put the figure in the hundreds.

A spokesman for the Asylum Seekers Support Initiative – Short Term, Sheffield, a charity that supports destitute asylum seekers, said the figure for Sheffield alone could be as high as 300 people.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire and Humberside consortium, an umbrella body that brings together local authorities providing National Asylum Support Service accommodation, said: “Undoubtedly there are hundreds of people in our region in this predicament with no means of support but their friends.

“The government needs to address this sensibly. We cannot leave people without support when they cannot be returned [to their country of origin].”

Under section 4 of the Asylum Act, failed asylum seekers who cannot return home are moved out of accommodation provided by NASS and offered hostel accommodation until a “safe passage” home can be found.

But to be eligible under section 4, failed asylum seekers must agree to be sent to any hostel in the UK where there is room, often nowhere near friends and family and with no support services.

They must also accept voluntary deportation, despite believing their lives could be in danger and even though the country they must return to is still deemed unsafe by the government.

The result is that they are living on the streets and on friends’ sofas, instead of taking help under section 4.

Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield Attercliffe, has written a letter signed by the police, council and housing providers from his constituency, to Desmond Browne, immigration minister, demanding action.

He said: “The current situation is absolutely ridiculous. These people should not be moved out of NASS accommodation until it is safe for them to go back. Moving them is completely wrong.

“The situation is simple. Until it is safe for them to go back we must provide for them. Housing providers need to be given support and funding by the government to enable provision to take place.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Accommodation is provided on a no-choice basis taking individual preferences into account. NASS is trying, wherever possible, to provide section 4 accommodation in the area where the failed asylum seeker is already living.

“But the most important thing is to provide accommodation to prevent homelessness and destitution. Where the accommodation is, must be of secondary importance.”

Deportation crisis

What is meant to happen under section 4 of the
Asylum Act?


  • Failed asylum seekers from unsafe countries are
    legally allowed to remain in the UK
  • Hostel accommodation, meals and £10 a week
    is offered
  • Voluntary deportation declaration must be signed

What is actually happening?

  • Failed asylum seekers refuse to comply with
    section 4 as they don’t want to sign voluntary
    deportation forms or risk being housed in a hostel
    elsewhere in the country away from friends and family
  • Hundreds are sleeping rough
  • Local authorities and social housing providers are
    not funded to provide any form of support