Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Stay at Epping Hotel After UK Government Appeal Win

The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court injunction that would have forced 138 asylum seekers to leave the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, by September 12. The judges found the earlier decision flawed, emphasizing its risk of destabilizing the broader asylum housing system and potentially encouraging lawlessness through protests.
The appeal, filed by the Home Office alongside the hotel’s owner, highlighted that closing one hotel abruptly would require locating alternative accommodation, an onerous burden amidst a nationwide housing shortage. The Court agreed, noting the High Court had improperly factored in local protests as justification for eviction. The reversal preserves the status quo until a full hearing in mid-October.
Local authorities had sought the injunction, citing planning violations and community unrest, following tensions and protests around the hotel. Yet, courts determined that permitting protests to influence legal remedies could set a dangerous precedent.
Critics accuse the government of prioritizing asylum seekers' rights over local community concerns. However, officials warn that eviction without preparation could leave vulnerable individuals destitute. The case underscores deep political fault lines over immigration policy, local governance, and the use of hotels for temporary asylum housing.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, The Guardian