Thousands protest new migrant camp in UK

Rallies in East Sussex have reportedly continued for the 12th consecutive weekend amid safety concerns and fears over their local impact

Thousands of people marched through the East Sussex town of Crowborough over the weekend to protest government plans to house asylum seekers on a former military site, according to media reports.

The march came after the British Home Office announced plans to house up to 500 male asylum seekers at the former army camp in Crowborough, a town of around 20,000, as part of a wider effort to end the use of hotels for temporary accommodation. Men, women, and children joined the demonstration in protest.

Hundreds of residents marched toward the former military training camp for the 12th consecutive weekend, waving St. George’s flags and chanting “We want Labour out.”

Local reports said 27 alleged asylum seekers had arrived on Thursday, with the government stating they will stay no longer than three months while their claims are processed.

Despite official assurances, protesters marched through Crowborough expressing concern over the impact of housing undocumented men in the community. Some cited previous incidents at asylum hotels, including sexual assault allegations, as heightening their fears over safety.

The initiative to house asylum seekers at former military sites is part of Labour’s pledge to end the use of taxpayer-funded asylum hotels by 2029, which currently cost billions of pounds each year. Earlier reports said the Home Office plans to resettle as many as 10,000 asylum seekers across the UK at up to 14 additional shelter sites.

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Under the proposed plan, migrants would be accommodated at former military facilities that have been upgraded and could begin receiving arrivals immediately.

Mounting anger over immigration has sparked protests across the UK in recent months, echoing concerns in Spain, Sweden, Germany and other countries. High-profile sexual assaults and violent crimes involving migrants have fueled political debate across Europe and intensified calls for stricter immigration and public-safety measures.

The decades-long migrant crisis is being driven by conflict, poverty, and political instability in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Western interventions — including wars in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, as well as support for uprisings in Syria — have destabilized governments and worsened violence, forcing many to flee.