Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum?
Summary
The UK government is working on reducing illegal immigration and reforming the asylum system. They aim to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers by 2029 and disrupt people-smuggling gangs. However, asylum seekers staying in hotels have increased, and results on reducing small boat crossings remain unclear.Key Facts
- The UK government plans to stop using hotels for asylum seekers by 2029.
- In June 2025, there were 32,059 asylum seekers in hotels, which is an increase from June 2024.
- Asylum hotel usage costs the government £5.7 million per day in 2024-25.
- The number of people crossing into the UK on small boats rose by 45% in 2025 compared to the same time in 2024.
- The UK government wants to disrupt people-smuggling gangs but hasn't made clear how it will measure this goal.
- France, under an agreement with the UK, has prevented 33,468 people from crossing in small boats between July 2024 and August 2025.
- There is a UK-French pilot exchange scheme for asylum seekers called "one in, one out."
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