Plans are underway to reduce financial assistance for asylum seekers in what is being called the most significant immigration crackdown in recent history.
Taking inspiration from Denmark, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing to introduce a series of changes to the asylum system to make the UK less appealing to migrants and streamline their removal from the country.
The Home Office argues that these adjustments will align the UK with international norms, but the Refugee Council warns that they may lead to more migrants resorting to rough sleeping.
One key reform proposed by Ms. Mahmood is to eliminate the legal obligation to provide support to asylum seekers, a requirement established in 2005 under EU law.
This change means that housing and weekly allowances will no longer be automatically granted. Additionally, those eligible to work in the UK but choose not to may be denied housing and benefits. Asylum seekers who break the law could also lose their support.
In a parliamentary statement, the Home Secretary is set to reveal that refugee status will become temporary and subject to regular review, with refugees being repatriated once their home countries are deemed safe.
Currently, refugees are granted five years of status, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain and work towards citizenship.
Other anticipated changes include instructing judges to prioritize public safety over migrants’ right to family life or the risk of inhumane treatment upon return to their home country.
The Home Secretary emphasized the need to restore order and control to the UK’s asylum system, acknowledging the strain that current migration levels are placing on communities.
Drawing lessons from Denmark’s stringent asylum policies, UK ministers have sought to emulate Denmark’s successful approach in deterring migrants and increasing deportations of illegal immigrants.
Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, criticized the proposed changes as excessive and unlikely to dissuade individuals fleeing persecution or violence.
He highlighted the existing challenges in the asylum process, such as restrictions on work rights and limited time for securing permanent housing after obtaining refugee status, suggesting that making the system harsher may not act as a deterrent.
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