Asylum seeker in Southampton hotel desperate to live normal life

Tevin Padilla fled Trinidad and Tobago after falling out with his family over his sexuality.

But after four years in Holland and six months in the UK, the 27-year-old is yet to be granted refugee status.

While he waits for the Home Office to process his application, Tevin is not allowed to work.

The uncertainty of what the future holds is taking a toll on his mental health.

“Sometimes I just look at myself and just burst into tears because I don’t know where my life is going.

“I get angry about the situation, but being angry isn’t going to make my belly full.

“I came here to get help, but it’s like I’m not getting any help at all.”

His anguish comes as Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, recently visited a housing facility being built in Rwanda to house asylum seekers deported from the UK. 

'It was like a prison'

Talking about his decision to flee his native country in the Caribbean, Tevin said: “I’m LGBT and it’s not accepted back home.

“I’ve been ambushed and beaten many times by my family until I left home to fend for myself.”

In 2019, Tevin travelled to Amsterdam where he felt "clueless as to what was going to happen".

Trinidadian asylum seeker, Tevin Pedilla, 27, is living in a Southampton hotel after fleeing his home country (Image: Tevin Pedilla)

He said: “I was in a deportation centre for the first two weeks I was there, I was locked in a room and couldn’t come out apart from one hour outside each day, so it made it feel like it was a prison.

“I was then taken to a shared facility with seven other people.

“Luckily there were other Trinidadians who were LGBT and we communicated, so that was nice.

“Eventually I tried to claim for asylum in Holland, twice, but my case was denied.”

With few options, Tevin returned home to Trinidad where he was forced to flee again after running into his cousins.

With his passport, he was able to book flights to the UK without a visa.

When he arrived last September, he claimed asylum and stayed with a friend in Newport, Wales.

However, he knew the arrangement could only be temporary.

READ MORE: Southampton refugee hub desperately needs more space

“[My friend] suggested that it was best for me to seek emergency accommodation because he didn’t have permission to host me so that’s how I came here to Southampton.”

Stuck in limbo

Tevin has been staying at a hotel in the city since January while he waits in the hope of moving to more permanent accommodation.

The Home Office gives asylum seekers staying in hotels £8.24 each week, but Tevin claims he hasn’t seen a penny, with the same applying to other asylum seekers staying in the hotel for as long as 17 months.

The Daily Echo has contacted the Home Office about this but did not receive a response.

Tevin said: “I can’t even go to the shop to buy a drink or snack or something.

“Sometimes you want to go out and buy a snack, but you can’t even do that.

“It’s no way to live, I can’t believe it and the thing is, I don’t think people know that this is what happens to asylum seekers.

“People think we come here and get taxpayers' money.

“That’s not really how it is.

“It’s frustrating and depressing, especially when you’re living there in the hotel.

“You can’t work, you can’t go to school, nothing.

“You’re just waiting here until the Home Office says whatever they want to do with you.

“I’ve had suicidal thoughts before.

“I hate to admit it but since coming to this hotel, the suicidal thoughts are rising.”

Hoping for a better future, Tevin said: “I just want to start living like a normal person.

“That’s my goal, I want to work, I want to go to school.

“I want to do something for me.

“I feel like my life has been wasted and the Home Office are just deciding how long they want to play with it.”

Mental health support available in Southampton

What do figures show?

More asylum seekers were receiving support in Southampton while their claim was processed than last year, figures show, as the number of people waiting for an asylum decision hits its highest ever level.

While awaiting a decision asylum seekers are unable to work but can be entitled to financial assistance and accommodation through what is known as 'Section 95' support.

Claimants may also be eligible for Section 98 – which is given to those who appear destitute and are waiting to see if they are eligible for Section 95 – or Section 4, for after a claim is rejected.

Figures from the Home Office shows 387 people were claiming asylum assistance in Southampton as of December – up from 235 a year before.

Of these people, 163 were receiving Section 95 support.

The figures come as the UK's backlog in asylum applications topped 160,900.

This was up 60 per cent from 100,600 for the same period in 2021, and the highest figure since current records began in 2010.

READ MORE: MP demands assurance over safety of asylum seeking children

The number of asylum seekers claiming Section 98 support – and therefore judged to be at risk of destitution – doubled from 24,200 to 49,500 last year.

Local figures on Section 98 support have only just been made available – with 173 people receiving it in Southampton.

In an effort to speed up the process, thousands of asylum seekers will now be sent 10-page questionnaires to fill out instead of facing an interview, with officials warning their claim could be “withdrawn” if they do not reply with the required information.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Our priority is to stop the boats and ensure that people who come here illegally are detained and swiftly removed.

“We are working to speed up asylum processing so that people do not wait months or years in the backlog, at vast expense to the taxpayer, and to remove everyone who doesn’t have a legitimate reason to be here.”

“To ensure our processes remain robust and all claims are properly considered, we have recruited hundreds of caseworkers to crack through cases,” they added.

• If you are affected by any issues mentioned in this report, contact the Samaritans 24/7 on the free helpline 116 123.