Overview

• The High Court ruled that the Home Office unlawfully housed asylum seekers with disabilities and mental health issues at RAF Wethersfield without assessing the impact of its policy changes.
• The judgment criticized the Home Secretary for failing to fulfill legal duties under the Equality Act and Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, particularly regarding victims of trafficking and torture.
• Conditions at the site, described as 'prison-like,' have been linked to a mental health crisis, with reports of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and violence among residents.
• Charities and aid organizations have called for the immediate closure of the site, citing inadequate living standards and harm to residents' well-being.
• The Home Office has spent over £650,000 in taxpayer funds defending its use of Wethersfield, which was intended to reduce reliance on hotels for housing asylum seekers.