Bogus refugeeclaims undermined
01 November 1994
The widespread use of detention for asylum-seekers in Britain (as in the rest of Europe) is part of a package of deterrent measures predicated on the premise, often repeated by politicians, that the vast majority of asylum-seekers to Europe in recent years have not been genuine refugees at all but poverty-stricken economic migrants seeking material gain. The ideology of "bogus refugees" has in turn fuelled the rapid increase in racist attacks on asylum-seekers. It was revealed in July that research showing the "economic migrant" theory to be false has been suppressed. The Home Office conducted - and then buried - research which shows that most of those granted either refugee status or exceptional (humanitarian) leave to remain were well-educated and highly skilled, and were under-employed in Britain. The Home Office denied suppressing the research and claimed that the methodology was faulty. Guardian 4 & 6.7.94.