In a significant policy change, Britain’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is to announce next week that asylum seekers in Britain will only be granted temporary status. The new approach, based on Denmark’s system, aims to reduce illegal immigration and make it easier to deport refugees once they are deemed safe in their home countries.
What is changing about UK asylum policy?
Under the new reforms, refugees seeking asylum in the UK will no longer be granted indefinite leave to remain after five years. Instead, their refugee status will be temporary and subject to regular review. As soon as the government deems the refugee’s home country safe, the person will be expected to return.
Currently, people seeking asylum in Britain can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, a step that can lead to British citizenship. This long-standing policy is being changed to make the UK less attractive to illegal immigrants and to speed up the process of removing people who are no longer eligible for protection.
Home Secretary’s logic behind the reform
In a statement to the PA news agency, an aide to Home Secretary Mahmoud stressed the significant change to refugee policy, calling it the most significant since the Second World War. The aide said, “Today, becoming a refugee is equivalent to lifetime protection in the UK. Mahmood will change this, making refugee status temporary and subject to regular review.”
Mahmoud has argued that the previous government wasted years and resources, including the controversial £700 million Rwandan deportation scheme, instead of dealing with the rising number of asylum claims. He also pointed to record levels of immigration raids and arrests under the Labor government, which have deported almost 50,000 individuals without the right to remain in Britain.
increasing number of asylum seekers
The number of asylum applications to the UK has increased in recent months, with 39,075 coming so far in 2025, surpassing the totals for 2023 and 2024. The rise in asylum claims is putting pressure on the UK immigration system, and the reform seeks to address concerns that the country has become an increasingly popular destination for asylum seekers.
Despite efforts to stop illegal crossings, including a pilot scheme with France to return migrants, arrivals to the UK continue in large numbers. The scheme, launched in August, has successfully evacuated 113 persons but has also allowed 92 to come through approved safe routes.
Other expected changes
Along with temporary refugee status, Mahmoud is expected to announce additional changes to the asylum process on Monday, including:
- Public safety over migrant rights: Judges would need to prioritize public safety over migrants’ rights to a family life or protection from inhumane treatment upon return to their home country.
- Intensive family reunion: Britain is considering Denmark’s strict rules on family reunification for refugees. Research shows that policies discouraging asylum seekers from bringing family members can affect the number of asylum applications.
- Prevention Policies: While studies indicate that asylum applications are limited in Denmark due to negative national branding, some argue that deterrent policies may not be as effective as in the UK. Despite this, the government is pushing for stronger measures to reduce the number of people crossing the English Channel.
Reactions and criticism
There have been mixed reactions to the proposed changes. Advocates for refugees and human rights groups argue that making refugee status temporary would further destabilize the lives of vulnerable individuals, many of whom have already fled persecution. Critics of the government’s approach have warned that the new measures will harm legitimate asylum seekers and could increase hardship for people already living in Britain on temporary status.
Meanwhile, supporters of reform, including Mahmood himself, argue that it is necessary to address the rising number of asylum claims and create a system that is fairer and more sustainable for the UK.
What’s next for the UK asylum system?
The Home Secretary’s announcement on Monday will mark a turning point in Britain’s asylum policy. The government is expected to continue monitoring the effectiveness of these reforms in the coming months. As the debate over asylum policy continues to escalate, the UK faces ongoing challenges in balancing immigration controls with humanitarian obligations.
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This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
