Phone seizures denounced as latest 'inhumane' asylum seeker policy in UK Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Fri, 01/09/2026 - 09:43 Refugees and rights groups warn new legislation increasingly undermining Britain's status as a safe haven Migrants picked up at sea attempting to cross the English Channel from France disembark from a Border Force vessel in Dover, south-east England, on February 9, 2025 (Ben Stansall/AFP) Off In 2023, Rishi Sunak became the prime minister of the UK following the brief and disastrous tenure of his predecessor, Liz Truss. With his party's support cratering, he picked up on an issue that had previously been largely confined to far-right groups and tabloid newspapers: the small boats carrying asylum seekers across the English Channel from France. He made it one of the five promises of his new government and it soon became one of the leading issues in the country, with enthusiastic backing from the opposition Labour Party and the far-right Reform UK. Since then, the parties have competed to implement and push for ever more stringent restraint on the rights those who "illegally" crossed the channel, leading NGOs and former asylum seekers to fear the UK is no longer a safe haven for those fleeing conflict and persecution. This week, the new Labour government brought into force legislation allowing officials to seize asylum seekers’ mobile phones and sim cards without the need for an arrest, nominally for the purpose of tracking down the people smugglers who facilitated their travel. Though the UK Home Office told Middle East Eye that in "most cases" the phones would be returned to those they were confiscated from, the legislation has been denounced as a violation of privacy and for applying a blanket assumption that any refugee could be a security threat. Ali, an Iranian refugee who crossed the channel to the UK and is now based in London, said his phone had been a vital lifeline during his journey. "My phone was essential, not optional. It contained contacts, evidence relevant to my asylum claim, and information that helped me stay safe and oriented during the journey," Ali told MEE, using a pseudonym for security reasons. He said he would have found it "extremely distressing" to have his data downloaded and would have felt like a criminal suspect rather than someone seeking protection. "If it had been seized on arrival, I would have been isolated at the most vulnerable moment of the process. For many asylum seekers, losing a phone means losing proof, communication, and the ability to properly explain their case." 'Making asylum harder does not remove the reasons people flee - it only increases the risks they face' - Ali, refugee The new powers, which came into force on Monday, allow officials at the Manston processing centre in Kent to force the removal of outer coat, jacket or gloves and search asylum seekers' mouths for hidden sim cards or electronic devices. Alex Morris, the UK's minister for border security and asylum, told The Guardian there would be technology on site at Manston to download data from their devices, which officials say is necessary to collect intelligence on people-smuggling networks. According to the Home Office, the powers would also be used against minors "when clearly necessary and proportionate", while noting that unaccompanied minors are not sent to Manston. Human rights groups have reacted with alarm to the new legislation. "This practice is inhumane, and had been deemed unlawful under the last Tory government," said Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, a group that provides support to asylum seekers. "It’s shameful that a Labour government has legislated to enact this practice. It’s time they started acting like a true Labour Party, and started treating their fellow humans with dignity and respect." 'Vile gangs' The small-boat crossings make up a tiny percentage of overall migration to the UK. However, the perception that those making the journey are doing so illegally and without following proper procedures has helped to stoke anger across the country. In 2025, a total of 41,472 migrants arrived in the UK on small boats across the channel, the second highest annual figure on record, compared to an all-time high of 45,774 in 2022. The UK government has characterised the problem as one of criminal networks, with traffickers charging thousands to refugees to move them across Europe and into the country. “We are implementing robust new laws with powerful offences to intercept, disrupt and dismantle these vile gangs faster than ever before and cut off their supply chains," Morris said of the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act. UK anti-protest laws may be 'in breach' of international human rights obligations Read More » Many of those arriving have come from the Middle East, with Iraq, Sudan, Syria and Iran all being major contributors. Iran is currently experiencing mass anti-government protests over the cost of living. Meanwhile, the country lives under the constant shadow of threats from US President Donald Trump and Israel, which killed more than 1,000 people during attacks in June 2025. Ali noted that the ongoing instability meant the flow of refugees from Iran was unlikely to let up any time soon, and this would need to be acknowledged. "No one chooses to make such a dangerous journey unless the situation at home has become unbearable," he said. "Making asylum harder does not remove the reasons people flee - it only increases the risks they face." He said his own arrival in the UK, and his experience of asylum detention, was "extremely distressing" as it was and the increasing intrusiveness of the state into the lives of those arriving made it seem like they were being treated as suspects rather than people seeking protection. "It risks exposing people still in danger and undermines trust in the asylum system," he explained. A 'less attractive' country Polling in Britain, has regularly shown leads for Reform UK, led by prominent far-right figure and Brexit architect Nigel Farage. While politics in the UK is fractured, with no single party garnering huge support, the deeply unpopular ruling Labour Party has pivoted to try and make inroads on Reform's territory. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has repeatedly promised to "smash the gangs" that operate the channel crossings. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud has announced the end of permanent settled status for refugees in the UK, while claiming that "illegal migration is tearing Britain apart". 'This is an abhorrently inhumane policy which once again dehumanises and discriminates against those seeking safety' - Daniel Sohege, Stand For All Ministers have boasted of making the UK a "less attractive" country to come to. In this context, campaigners for refugees' rights fear the latest legislation on phone seizures is unlikely to be the end of the story. "This is theft on a state level, with little to no chance of people being able to replace the phones and contacts once it has happened," said Daniel Sohege, director of human rights advocacy group Stand for All. "Coupled with invasive searches being proposed, this is an abhorrently inhumane policy which once again dehumanises and discriminates against those seeking safety, and re-traumatising them at the same time." Refugees News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0