The United Kingdom has been affected for several weeks by demonstrations against migrants. The trigger was a case of sexual assault in which an asylum applicant was involved. It all started in Epping, when a 38 -year -old Ethiopian was charged last month to try to kiss a 14 -year -old teenager. In the following hours, several activists surrounded the hotel where it was staying to demand that the migrant accommodation be put an end. Since then, the manifestations have multiplied and other hotels have been subject to attacks.
With our correspondent in London, Sara Menai
Since the beginning of the movement, at least 18 people have been arrested and eight police have been injured. The cause has been resumed by the British extreme right, whose activists face today the activists of the anti -racist groups. The authorities fear a burst of violence comparable to the summer disturbances of 2024. This weekend, a contingent of 3,000 riot police were prepared to respond to new disturbances.
Thus, for three weeks, Epping, northeast of London, has become the epicenter of the immigration system crisis in the United Kingdom. This city of 11,000 inhabitants, located in northern London, sees how part of its population is exasperated by the presence of asylum applicants in the city’s hotels.
“Many inhabitants do not feel safe”
Once admitted to the system, the authorities house them, normally in hotels, where they can stay several months, even several years. This device has a cost: 10 million euros a day for the State. It is precisely this figure that the protesters denounce, in addition to mentioning the problems related to insecurity.
Holly Whitbread, a regional conservative counselor of Epping, says understanding the frustration of the local population: “We have always considered that it was an inappropriate place for a hotel of this type, especially in the light of the recent incident. It is already too much. We do not know who are the people who stay here and many residents do not feel safe, they do not feel protected and, frankly, it is irresponsible, it is irresponsible by the government.
At the local level, several municipalities now ask for the closure of these hotels. Meanwhile, the British Interior Ministry is working on the relocation of some asylum applicants.
“Deport now and appeal later”
By positive Daniel, RFI correspondent in London
The government program is called “Deporting now and appealing later” and allows foreigners to be repatriated by crimes in the United Kingdom to their countries of origin before they can appeal the decision. And follow the video conference appeal.
In addition, they have added to the list of countries where fifteen more countries can be returned, among which are Canada, India, Australia, Bulgaria, Malaysia or Angola. There are already 23 countries and could be more in the future.
This measure occurs after yesterday the Minister of Justice announced the plans to deport foreign criminals immediately after they receive a prison sentence. The objective is to lighten the superpoblated British prisons since foreign criminals are 12% of the penitentiary population.
In this way Starmer also wants to stop the protests against immigration on an important part of the population that were produced again this end of weeks and stop the Nigel Farage anti -immigration party, the most popular right now in the United Kingdom that is staying with Labor and Conservative Voters and is marking the political agenda in the country.
