Home Office plans to seize asylum seekers' mobile phones and SIM cards without arrest have been condemned by campaigners. The powers, effective from Monday, apply to those sent to Manston processing centre in Kent after arriving by small boat. Officials will use on-site technology to download data and may search inside detainees' mouths for hidden devices, though it remains unclear if children will be subject to such searches.
Natasha Tsangarides of Freedom from Torture described the measures as 'profoundly inhumane', arguing that invasive searches of traumatised individuals risk treating all refugees as security threats. Solicitor Jonah Mendelsohn of Wilson Solicitors questioned whether the plans comply with a 2022 High Court ruling, noting the lack of independent oversight to ensure searches are fair and legal.
The government says the powers, part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, will help gather intelligence on smuggling networks. Borders Minister Alex Norris stated the laws are designed to 'intercept, disrupt and dismantle these vile gangs'. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also indicated that hotel closures for asylum seekers will begin in the coming months.
In 2025, 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel, the second highest annual figure on record, up 13% from 2024. Critics warn the blanket application of these powers could lead to legal challenges similar to previous failures identified by the courts.
