A decision by the previous government to delay processing asylum claims is behind the decision to house large numbers of migrants in hotels, the Refugee Council has told Sky News.
Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the council, said the Conservatives had stopped making decisions because they wanted to send asylum seekers to Rwanda while claims were processed, a policy that he claimed had now created the backlog.
A court ruled on Monday that migrants should be removed from a hotel in Epping, Essex – other councils are now likely to lodge appeals.
"This is a failure of public policy to process claims," he said.
"Nobody thinks asylum seekers should be kept in hotels while their cases are being processed.
"It’s very expensive, it’s an isolating experience…. and of course for local communities there’s a lot of tension, some of which is being exploited by the far-right."
Analysis: https://news.sky.com/story/epping-asylum-hotel-court-ruling-poses-real-danger-for-government-but-they-also-smell-dirty-tricks-13414962
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