Number of asylum seekers in hotels halves in a year
Home Office data shows the number of asylum seekers housed in UK hotels dropped from over 32,000 in June 2025 to over 16,000 in June 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Number of asylum seekers in hotels halved from 32,000 to 16,000 in a year
- Total asylum claims fell by 20% to 86,000, with half already in the UK
- The government aims to completely end the use of hotels for asylum seekers in five years
- Work and study visas decreased significantly compared to previous peak periods
Official data published by the UK Home Office reveals a significant decline in the utilization of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers awaiting initial decisions. Records indicate that while more than 32,000 individuals were residing in hotel rooms in June 2025, that figure dropped by half to over 16,000 by June of this year.
Alongside the reduction in hotel accommodation, overall metrics regarding legal migration arrivals, asylum applications, and small boat arrivals to the UK have all experienced decreases compared to the previous year. In the 12 months leading up to June, approximately 38,000 illegal arrivals were detected, with 33,000 crossing the sea from France via small boats.
Approximately 86,000 people sought asylum during this period, marking a 20% drop from the prior year. Around half of these applications originated from individuals already legally present in the UK rather than recent small boat arrivals. Taking office in July 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration instructed officials to accelerate claim processing with a strategic target to phase out hotel usage within five years.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood commented on the latest statistics, noting that migration control policies are yielding measurable results after slightly more than two years in office.
"A little over two years into office and the asylum backlog is down, the number of asylum seekers in hotels is falling, illegal working arrests are at record levels, and deportations and returns are up markedly."
Shabana Mahmood
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Managing asylum seekers and unauthorized channel crossings remains a deeply polarizing political issue in the United Kingdom. Utilizing commercial hotels for extended periods placed severe financial strain on public resources, making the acceleration of case processing a core administrative priority. Although these statistics indicate progress in reducing backlogs, political opponents continue to debate the most effective long-term strategies for border control and human rights obligations.
In response to the figures, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the government's approach, arguing that his party would deport every illegal immigrant and exit the European Court of Human Rights. Meanwhile, Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf characterized the situation as a breaking point, advocating for naval intervention in the Channel alongside immediate detention and deportation policies.
The data also highlighted sharp reductions across various visa categories. Work visas granted by the Home Office in the year ending June 2026 totaled 235,000, representing an 18% decline from the previous year and a 62% drop from the December 2023 peak. Specialist health and care worker visas experienced a dramatic 90% reduction following progressive policy tightening measures implemented over the term.
Source: BBC Politics
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment