UK: Home Sec. Accused of Ignoring Migrant Overcrowding

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Facts

  • UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman is facing criticism after allegedly failing to sign off on measures that could've prevented overcrowding at the Manston asylum processing center. The center's capacity is 1.6k, but it's currently holding 4k migrants.1
  • The center, a closed-down former airport, is supposed to house migrants for 24 hours before sending them to other temporary accommodations. The resigned-turned-reinstated Home Sec. is now reportedly considering plans to house asylum seekers in hotels and other resorts.2
  • However, she is accused of previously not booking alternative accommodation  — as both her predecessor Priti Patel and successor Grant Shapps had done — deliberately. Some have suggested this could be a breach of ministerial code.3
  • The Home Office has denied allegations that advice on alleviating overcrowding was deliberately ignored, and noted that the number of migrants crossing the Channel into the UK via small boats has reached 'record levels,' placing the asylum system 'under incredible pressure.'1
  • With 1k migrants arriving in Britain on Sunday alone, pressure is mounting on the office that is currently dealing with a 100k backlog in processing asylum applications, 96% of which are still outstanding from last year alone.4
  • This is  but the latest controversy surrounding Braverman after it emerged that she sent official documents via personal email, leading to her resignation under former PM Liz Truss. She was reinstated six days later by Rishi Sunak.4

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Independent, 3The telegraph and 4Sky news.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by Seattlepi. This seems to be a deliberately-imposed crisis by the Conservative party and Braverman. This is another example of the party's dehumanizing policy toward asylum seekers, after its ship-them-to-Rwanda idea. Those responsible should be investigated and removed from office.
  • Right narrative, as provided by The week uk. The real issue here is the massive backlog of asylum applications that only worsens as the UK continues to receive boats of migrants. Braverman should abide by her previous vow to ban asylum grants to those who cross the Channel illegally.