Border Agency reports that 45 Americans have claimed asylum since 2004
January 26 2010 by Liam Clifford
A report today chronicles the bizarre fact that some 45 Americans have tried to claim asylum in the UK since 2004.
The figures from the Home Office, obtained through the freedom of information act, also shows that between 2004 and 2008 some 15 Canadians attempted to claim asylum. All 60 applications were rejected.
The statistics will come as a shock to many as the operation of claiming asylum entails the individual fearing persecution in their home country. It is thought that the cases in 2004-2008 were of a political nature and in response to US foreign policy. However experts in the field of Canada and US immigration are puzzled as simply applying for a UK work visa from these countries is relatively straight-forward, the person could then just renew and then make an application for the right to remain in the UK.
In the same period there were 132,640 applications made for asylum in the UK, according to home office statistics.
Some Americans, however, have been successful in claiming asylum abroad. 1997 saw a successful application in the Netherlands, where Holly Ann Collins and her three children were granted asylum from domestic abuse in the USA. However, the family had to endure living in four separate refugee camps before this was approved.
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