Protesters hold banners and placards during a demonstration in Orpington near London, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025

Today could end up being a pivotal moment in the debate around how the UK manages asylum seekers.

The Court of Appeal is expected to announce its decision on whether to overturn the injunction which called for all immigrants to be removed from Epping’s Bell Hotel this afternoon.

While there’s still a chance the complicated case could be postponed, the highly-anticipated ruling – whenever it is announced – could be a landmark moment in this highly-divisive topic.

Here’s what you need to know.

What happened?

Ongoing anti-immigration sentiment escalated earlier this summer, when one of the 138 asylum seekers being housed at the Epping facility – Hadush Kebatu – was charged with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. He is on trial and denies wrongdoing.

The incident sparked local anti-immigration protests outside the hotel, which were soon met with counter-demonstrations and significant police intervention.

National interest in the protests soon rose, with politicians like Reform UK’s Nigel Farage publicly siding with those calling for the asylum seekers to be removed.

Amid all the furore, Epping Forest District Council declared that using the hotel to house asylum seekers breached planning laws – and the High Court ruled in its favour.

Mr Justice Eyre announced that all asylum seekers had to be removed from the hotel by 4pm on September 12.

The Home Office and the Bell Hotel subsequently challenged........

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