NEARLY 800 citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, including alleged gang members, their families, and a local social media influencer, have sought asylum in the United Kingdom since 2023, according to a UK government report disclosed this week.
The figures, detailed in an explanatory memorandum presented to Parliament on Wednesday, reveal a dramatic spike in asylum applications from the Caribbean nation.
From March 12, Trinidadians need a visa to travel to England, Scotland, Northern Island, and Wales to pass through or even for short visits. Previously, no visa was required for Trinidad citizens.
T&T now joins 66 other countries, including Jamaica, Colombia, and Venezuela, that require visas to travel to the UK.
Over eight quarters spanning 2023 to late 2024, claims surged to 797, with numbers peaking at 209 in the final quarter of 2024 alone. By comparison, pre-pandemic averages from 2015 to 2019 saw just 49 annual claims.
UK authorities noted that most applications were filed “at port on arrival,” straining border operations and diverting staff from critical duties. The report highlights concerns that Trinidad and Tobago nationals increasingly enter the UK under visitor visas but then pursue unauthorized activities, such as work, residency, or asylum claims.
Notably, the applicants include individuals linked to criminal networks, their relatives, and a self-styled “influencer” from Trinidad and Tobago, though specifics about their identities or cases remain undisclosed. The UK government has cited the trend as a driver for recent immigration rule adjustments aimed at curbing the misuse of visitor routes.
The sharp rise has sparked debates over border security and asylum processes, with critics urging tighter scrutiny of arrivals from countries flagged for unusual application patterns. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago officials have yet to comment on the report’s claims or the alleged motivations behind the exodus.
