The UK is set to overhaul its asylum system, introducing some of the toughest new rules possible. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced an extensive package of reforms aimed at reducing illegal migration and reshaping the way the UK handles asylum claims, as cnn.com reports.
Describing the current system as “out of control,” she says her proposals are intended to ease pressure on local communities, deter dangerous journeys, and restore public confidence in immigration rules.
Temporary Refugee Status and Regular Reviews
One of the most significant changes is the end of near-automatic permanent refugee status. Instead of holding five years of protection before applying for settled status, refugees would receive 30-month permits that must be renewed regularly.
If conditions in their home country improve, refugees could be required to return. This approach mirrors Denmark’s model, where protection is strictly temporary and regularly reassessed.
Longer Routes to Settlement
People who arrive in the UK illegally would face a much longer wait to settle permanently—up to 20 years. This would apply only to new arrivals and is designed to discourage irregular entry. Mahmood has suggested that those who use official resettlement pathways and contribute economically may qualify for settlement more quickly, though full details are still to come.
Ukrainians Included in Temporary Approach
Ukrainian nationals in the UK, currently here under special visa schemes, would also fall under the new expectation of eventual return once the conflict ends. Mahmood says their stay was always intended as temporary support during wartime.
Changes to Asylum Support and Benefits
The government plans to remove the automatic entitlement to state-funded housing and financial allowances for asylum seekers. Support would become discretionary, particularly for those who can work or who breach immigration or criminal laws.
The intention, Mahmood says, is to ensure benefits prioritise people who contribute to the economy and to eliminate “pull factors” used by criminal gangs to sell journeys to the UK.
Use of AI in Age Assessment
Artificial intelligence will be introduced to help assess the ages of irregular arrivals, following concerns that children are wrongly treated as adults and vice versa. Rights groups have warned about risks of misclassification, especially for vulnerable minors.
New Legal Routes for Refugees
To provide alternatives to dangerous Channel crossings, the government plans to create new capped legal pathways. Communities and individuals would be able to sponsor refugees, similar to the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme.
Those who arrive through these formal routes would have a quicker and easier path to citizenship. Skilled refugees could also be admitted for work under an expanded mobility programme.
Tougher Legal Framework
A series of legal reforms will support the new system. These include:
- Reinterpreting human rights protections to make the deportation of dangerous offenders easier.
- Narrowing the definition of “family life” under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, limiting it to immediate family members.
- Restricting repeated appeals by requiring all objections to removal to be made in a single case.
- Overhauling the Modern Slavery Act to prevent misuse in immigration claims.
Rising Migration Numbers and Political Reactions
The reforms come amid rising small-boat arrivals and increasing public concern. More than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel so far this year—higher than the totals for 2023 and 2024 at the same point.
Political responses have been sharply divided.
- Conservatives argue the plans do not go far enough and want the UK to leave the ECHR entirely.
- Liberal Democrats support allowing asylum seekers to work, saying it would reduce reliance on public funds.
- Some Labour MPs warn the approach echoes far-right rhetoric, though Mahmood insists her goal is fairness and restoring trust in the system.
Mahmood’s “Moral Mission”
The home secretary—herself the daughter of immigrants—says the reforms are driven by a belief that illegal migration is creating deep divisions. She argues that a credible system must be firm, fair, and sustainable if the UK is to maintain public support for helping people fleeing danger.
Further details, including legislative proposals, are expected as the government sets out how the changes will be implemented in practice.