| The asylum process differs from country to | | | | |
| country and as does the length of time to | | | | The highest number of asylum seekers are |
| make a decision, be that positive or | | | | coming from Iraq, Iran, Somalia and an |
| negative. | | | | increasing number of Chinese are claiming |
| | | | asylum in the UK. The reasons for claiming |
| According to the 2005 UN statistics, the USA | | | | asylum vary from Political and Religious |
| admitted the highest number of asylum seekers | | | | Oppression to Tribal Conflict and Sexual |
| in the developed world in the past five years | | | | Orientation in a country that has no freedom |
| with the UK not far behind. I have been to | | | | regarding sexuality. |
| New York and established Polish and Irish | | | | |
| communities already exist from previous mass | | | | The problem is removing those asylum seekers |
| movement of refugees after the potato famine | | | | that have been refused asylum as they often |
| in Ireland and World War II which led to | | | | disappear into society working illegally and |
| millions of Poles relocating around the war | | | | moving from location to location to avoid |
| after Stalin had stated that any Poles that | | | | detention and deportation. Charles Clark is |
| fought for the allies would face persecution | | | | the third Home Secretary in past few years to |
| under the Russian controlled communist | | | | lose his jobs over the problem of |
| government of Poland at that time. | | | | immigration. These problems are leading to |
| | | | the Far-Right British National Party making |
| May people see the USA and UK via cable TV | | | | political gains due to the immigration |
| and think that the streets are paved with | | | | problems. |
| gold. It's only when they arrive in these | | | | |
| countries that they realise that life is not | | | | But this increase in far Right popularity has |
| easy and that poverty and homelessness still | | | | not stopped asylum seekers coming to the UK |
| exists in two of the richest countries of the | | | | in search of safety and sanctuary and with |
| world. The UK has strong colonial links from | | | | the continuing trouble in Iraq, political and |
| the days of the British Empire with a third | | | | nuclear problems in Iran, renewed fighting in |
| of the world once coming under its | | | | Somalia and the ever lasting border war |
| protectorate. These strong links, its | | | | between Ethiopia and Eritrea; It looks like |
| multi-cultural society and the English | | | | the USA and UK will continue honouring its |
| language mean the UK is often favoured as a | | | | agreement under the UN Convention for years |
| destination for claiming asylum. | | | | to come. |