The new Archbishop of York led a number of church leaders in condemning government policies that leave asylum-seekers homeless and with no financial support. The letter to the Times on Saturday, 03 December 05, began "We believe that it is inhuman and unacceptable that some people seeking asylum are left homeless and destitute by government policies" and called for people seeking asylum to have "the opportunity to help themselves and society through paid employment".
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is Britain's first black archbishop and was inaugurated last week. The letter, which was signed by the archbishop and 44 bishops and church leaders, said that the threat of destitution was being used to exert pressure on unsuccessful asylum-seekers to leave the country. Their letter also highlighted circumstances where asylum seekers have been refused refugee status but have no safe route to return and the many cases where people are unjustly refused asylum. It coincides with the launch of the Refugee Council's campaign on destitution and the right to work.
However, a spokesman for the Home Office told the BBC "It is important for the integrity of our asylum system that any individual who is found not to be in need of international protection should be expected to leave the UK. Voluntary returns are preferable to enforced returns. But if people do not leave voluntarily, we will enforce their return."
Other information:
Read the letter to the Times: We must change the policies that victimise asylum seekers
Read the the Minister of Immigration, Nationality and Asylum's response in the Times the day after:
Failed asylum seekers are not left in the cold
BBC: Call for change on asylum policy
Find out more about the Refugee Council's campaign and sign up to campaign against destitution and for the right to work
