Drop in migrants in hotels but small-boat arrivals remain high
The number of migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels has fallen to an 18-month low; however, the majority of small-boat arrivals are still not being sent home, reports BritPanorama.
New figures from the Home Office indicate that 30,657 asylum seekers were residing in hotels at the end of December 2025 — a decline of 19 per cent compared to last year and nearly half of the record peak seen in 2023.
A Home Office spokesperson described the reduced numbers as “real progress” as ministers strive to “restore order and control” at the border. They noted, “We have removed nearly 60,000 illegal migrants, numbers in asylum hotels are down, law enforcement action against people smugglers is at record levels and we are bearing down on the asylum backlog.” Nonetheless, the spokesperson acknowledged that “the number of people crossing the Channel is too high, and too many hotels remain in use.”
In 2025, the improved efficiency in processing applications contributed to the reduction of hotel usage. A record 135,000 decisions were made last year, representing a 56 per cent increase from 2024, leading to a decrease in the backlog from 124,000 to 64,000 individuals. This allowed thousands to transition from emergency accommodations to longer-term housing.
Despite this progress, the data underscores the challenges with small-boat migrants. Since 2018, over 190,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by boat, yet only 7,612 have been returned, accounting for just 4 per cent of the total. Last year alone saw 41,000 small-boat arrivals, a 13 per cent increase, contributing to a total of 46,000 illegal entries into the UK in 2025.
As of the end of the year, 107,003 individuals were receiving asylum support, including 72,769 in dispersal housing and nearly 3,600 relying solely on subsistence payments. A significant number of failed asylum seekers, approximately 4,600, continue to receive support due to complications surrounding removal.
The North West region bears the heaviest responsibility, hosting over 20,800 supported asylum seekers, the highest among all regions. Officials highlighted a notable rise in removals to countries previously deemed difficult for deportation. Returns to Afghanistan increased by 65 per cent to 135, while removals to Eritrea quadrupled from 17 to 68, and returns to Sudan more than doubled to 47.
Border Security Minister Alex Norris stated, “These figures show removals and deportations of illegal migrants are now at record levels. Nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here have been removed under this government, including the deportation of 8,700 foreign criminals.”
He further emphasized ongoing efforts to ensure compliance from nations unwilling to accept their citizens back, stating, “Now, we will go further. We will continue to impose visa sanctions on countries that do not accept their citizens back, and we will introduce domestic law to ensure human rights laws cannot block a legitimate removal.”
This situation highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding the UK’s immigration system and the challenges associated with balancing humanitarian obligations and border control.
