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The UK government is set to introduce significant changes to its asylum system, aiming to accelerate the deportation of illegal migrants. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing to present these reforms to Parliament, which include measures to limit repeated appeals against deportation and revise existing human rights legislation. The new policies will also affect those who are granted asylum, restricting their status to temporary protection and requiring them to leave the UK if their country is later deemed safe. Additionally, successful asylum seekers will only be able to apply for permanent settlement after residing in the UK for 20 years, a notable increase from the current five-year requirement.
Mahmood has also announced stricter visa controls targeting three African nations—Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—if their governments do not improve cooperation in removing illegal migrants. Speaking to the BBC, Mahmood emphasized the moral imperative behind the plans, stating, “This is a moral mission for me, because I can see illegal migration is tearing our country apart, it is dividing communities.” However, the proposals have met with criticism from some Labour MPs, such as Rachael Maskell, who condemned the government’s approach as a step in the wrong direction.
The reforms seek to reduce the number of migrants arriving on small boats and streamline the deportation process for failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals. Key elements include limiting appellants to a single appeal, after which deportation will proceed if unsuccessful. The government plans to adopt a system similar to Denmark’s, establishing an independent authority to fast-track removals in cases with little chance of success. Changes will also be made to how human rights protections are applied: Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects family life, will only be invoked by those with immediate family in the UK. Furthermore, UK legislation will follow broader international efforts to restrict Article 3 claims, which shield individuals from inhuman or degrading treatment, to prevent abuse by serious criminals who have previously blocked deportation on healthcare grounds. The Home Office also intends to tighten the Modern Slavery Act to reduce last-minute claims that delay removals.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer supports the reforms, emphasizing their potential to end “endless appeals” and accelerate the removal of individuals without legal right to remain. Mahmood highlighted that the pace and scale of immigration had contributed to social instability and division, making it necessary to restore order and control over the system. Alongside these tougher measures, the government plans to create safe and legal routes for refugees based on work and study opportunities. However, limits will be imposed on successful asylum seekers: their status will be reviewed every two and a half years, and they must have resided in the UK for 20 years before applying for permanent settlement. Family reunification will be restricted to immediate relatives only, and housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed for asylum claimants.
Currently, the UK faces record-high asylum applications, with around 111,000 claims submitted in the year ending June 2025. An appeals backlog exceeds 50,000 cases, often resulting in waits of at least a year for decisions. These reforms have drawn unease not only from opposition parties but also within Labour ranks. Maskell cautioned that many MPs share concerns, warning that altering the relationship with the ECHR amounts to going “a step too far.” Notable figures such as Nigel Farage have commented that, despite the home secretary’s stance, practical constraints from human rights laws and internal party dynamics might hinder the reforms’ implementation. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council criticized the extended 20-year timeline for permanent settlement, suggesting it would prolong migrants’ uncertainty and anxiety. Meanwhile, the UK government is focusing on countries with poor cooperation on returns, targeting Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo due to what the Home Office describes as “unacceptably low cooperation and obstructive returns processes.”
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