Do not oppress a foreigner Exodus 23 9

Do not oppress a foreigner…… Exodus 23: 9 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME Exploring and understanding: Who are asylum seekers? Why do asylum seekers come to the UK? What do we mean by ‘refugee’?

What do you already know? Spend two minutes sharing your ideas with a neighbour: What do we mean by an ‘asylum seeker’? What is the difference between a ‘refugee’ and an ‘illegal immigrant’?

MATCH THE TERM WITH THE DEFINITION: Asylum seeker Refugee Illegal immigrant Economic migrant European migrant Moves to another country to find work Is allowed to stay in another country because they have proved they would be persecuted at home Can work in another country in the European Economic Area is in another country without legal permission Has fled their homeland needs sanctuary

MATCH THE TERM WITH THE DEFINITION: Asylum seeker Refugee Illegal immigrant Economic migrant European migrant Has fled their homeland needs sanctuary Is allowed to stay in another country because they have proved they would be persecuted at home is in another country without legal permission Moves to another country to find work Can work in another country in the European Economic Area

TRUE OR FALSE? Britain is particularly popular for asylum seekers because it is easy to get in Asylum seekers get more benefits than pensioners Asylum seekers ‘jump the queue’ for houses Many asylum seekers come to the UK for benefits Asylum seekers are detained whilst their cases are reviewed The UK is swarming with refugees

TRUE OR FALSE? Britain is particularly popular for asylum seekers because it is easy to get in: FALSE Asylum seekers get more benefits than pensioners: FALSE Asylum seekers ‘jump the queue’ for houses: FALSE Many asylum seekers come to the UK for benefits: FALSE Asylum seekers are detained whilst their cases are reviewed: TRUE The UK is swarming with refugees: FALSE Asylum seekers steal our Jobs: FALSE

Britain is particularly popular for asylum seekers because it is easy to get in: FALSE It is a very complex system Many people are rejected The Home Office’s initial decisions are overturned in 26% of appeals There were 19, 804 asylum applications to the UK in 2011. This the second lowest level in 10 years.

Asylum seekers get more benefits than pensioners: FALSE This accusation has been found in a viral protest that has cropped up on social media sites and on email. The ‘original’ has been in circulation in different countries (including Australia and Canada) since 2007 Asylum seekers – i. e. persons awaiting a decision on an asylum application – are not entitled to any mainstream noncontributory social security benefits such as income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit. Instead, they may be eligible for accommodation and/or financial support from the UK Border Agency. Cash support for asylum seekers is less generous than social security benefits; for example, a single person aged 18 or over currently receives £ 36. 62 a week, a lone parent receives £ 43. 94 a week and a couple £ 72. 52 a week

Asylum seekers ‘jump the queue’ for houses: FALSE Asylum seekers do not jump the queue for council housing and they cannot choose where they live. The accommodation allocated to them is not paid for by the local council. It is allocated by UK Border Agency. It is nearly always ‘hard to let’ properties, where other people do not want to live.

Many asylum seekers come to the UK for benefits: FALSE In fact, most know nothing about welfare benefits before they arrive and had no expectation that they would receive financial support. “The only thing in my mind was to be safe. I didn’t make any choice to leave my country. ” (Democratic Republic of Congo, male, 3544)

Asylum seekers are detained whilst their cases are reviewed: TRUE Detention can be a few weeks, months – or even years if the case isn’t resolved. Children are detained with their parents, often with severe consequences.

ASYLUM SEEKERS STEAL OUR JOBS Asylum seekers are not allowed to work! Actually, if their claim is refused (and 20% are because of paperwork errors), they have nowhere to live, no money to live on…nothing. They are called destitute. The Destitution Trap: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=S 0 - 3 l. MOB 4 io

The UK is swarming with refugees: FALSE The UK hosts between 2 and 3% of the world’s refugees and asylum seekers – less than Pakistan, Syria, Iran and Germany In 2009 the government were supporting around 50, 000 asylum seekers – 0. 08% of the population

Activity…… Now you know the difference between the myths and the truth, design a poster to raise awareness about refugees and asylum seekers. You can use the information in the booklets/on the sheets The posters will be put up around school

Check your understanding: Can you define: asylum seeker; refugee; illegal immigrant; economic migrant; european migrant. Can you counter some of the myths told about asylum seekers?