Facts on Asylum seekers and refugees

Comparing tax dodging and benefits for people seeking asylum

MP Zarah Sultana claimed that the super-rich and large corporations dodge £90 billion in tax every year. This is based on an estimate for the tax gap which is much higher than the official figure and doesn’t just cover tax dodging by the super-rich and big corporations.

It’s not true that migrants get a free TV licence

A widely shared post on Facebook incorrectly claims migrants who arrive in Britain receive a free TV licence, while pensioners have to pay for one.

Can refugees enter the UK illegally?

Boris Johnson said if you come to the UK illegally, you are an illegal migrant. This is not correct in the case of refugees.

How many refugees does the UK take in?

A number of EU countries have granted asylum to more refugees than the UK in recent years.

This image on benefits for pensioners and refugees is not correct

What’s the difference between the benefits pensioners, ‘illegal immigrants’ and refugees can claim?

Do refugees have to stay in the first safe country they reach?

No. But the UK can, in some circumstances, return refugees to the first safe EU country they reached under EU law.

We factchecked a viral video on asylum seekers

Asylum seekers have to be destitute to get support and, if eligible, can’t choose what type of housing they get.

How many child asylum seekers are found to be adults?

Two thirds of assessed child asylum seekers, are found to be over 18, but only a small proportion of children seeking asylum are assessed over their age.

Who gets more, pensioners or refugees?

What’s the difference between what pensioners, ‘illegal immigrants’ and refugees can claim?

Two UK schemes have resettled 11,000 Syrian refugees

Just over 10,000 refugees from the Syrian conflict have been resettled via a government scheme since September 2015.