Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has declared the UK's asylum system 'out of control' while unveiling the most significant immigration reforms in modern times. The sweeping changes will end the generations-old assumption that sanctuary leads to permanent settlement.
End of Permanent Refugee Status
In a dramatic shift from current policy, refugees granted asylum in Britain will no longer receive permanent status. Instead, they will need to reapply to remain in the country every two and a half years. The current system provides five years of protection followed by eligibility for indefinite leave to remain.
Mahmood emphasised that even refugees who have established lives with homes and families in the UK - including Ukrainians - could face returning home if their countries become safe. This approach mirrors Denmark's controversial system.
'What the new reforms will do is change that generations-old assumption that sanctuary provided to refugees can very quickly lead to permanent settlement and all of the rights that go alongside that,' Mahmood told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.
Temporary Protection and Work Requirements
The home secretary outlined that approximately 100,000 people currently receive asylum support in the UK, with the vast majority accommodated by the state. About one third remain in hotels, though Labour has pledged to end this practice by 2029.
Under the new system, asylum assistance will become discretionary rather than guaranteed. The government will be able to deny help to those who can work or have assets.
Mahmood highlighted what she called unfair advantages in the current system: 'There is also no expectation that people have to comply with the rules in order to retain their asylum accommodation. There's also no expectation that if you break the law of this country, you lose your accommodation. That actually places those individuals in a better position than most British citizens.'
Only about 8,500 people in asylum accommodation currently have the right to work, primarily those who entered on a visa and later claimed asylum. The reforms will introduce stronger work expectations for those capable of employment.
Stricter Rules for Illegal Arrivals and New Technology
The package includes particularly strict measures for those arriving illegally, who will face a 20-year wait before being eligible to apply for permanent settlement. This measure is expected to apply only to new arrivals.
In a separate overnight announcement, the Home Office revealed plans to use AI-powered facial age-estimation technology to assess migrants who arrive illegally. The technology, trained on thousands of images, aims to address concerns that inaccurate age assessment puts children at risk, though migrant rights groups fear it might incorrectly classify children as adults.
Mahmood, who described herself as 'the child of migrants,' defended the reforms against accusations of using far-right language: 'This is a moral mission for me, because I can see illegal migration is tearing our country apart. It is dividing communities.'
The home secretary stressed that Ukrainians arriving under bespoke schemes would always have their obligations honoured, but noted the temporary nature of their stay aligns with most refugees' desire to eventually return home when safe.
