The British Labor Government Keir Starmer This Monday he officially presented his project for the largest reform of the asylum system in decadeswhich will limit refugees’ access to legal residence, toughen family reunification and accelerate deportations of those who do not have the right to remain in the United Kingdom.
The Shabana Mahmoodassured that the plan, published on the Ministry’s website and which he will later present to Parliament, will allow “to unite a divided country”, despite the criticism from Labor colleagues who consider it close to the discourse of the extreme right.
With this review of the asylum system, Labor seeks to stop the populist party’s rise in the polls Reform UK. Ironically, these Government announcements have been celebrated by its leader, Nigel Farage, who has indicated that the Interior Minister “seems like a sympathizer” of her party.
According to the published document, inspired by the restrictive Danish model, The changes pursue three objectives: reduce the arrival of immigrants through irregular routes, increase the returns of people in an illegal situation and create new safe and legal routes that facilitate genuine asylum applications.
The Government will limit the residency of refugees fleeing conflict to an initial period of 30 months (2.5 years), reviewable according to the situation in your country of origin, and It will delay access to permanent residence from the current five years to 20 years. During those 20 years, they could lose their right to remain in the country.
However, these people They will be able to access residency sooner if they opt for new specific work or study visas, designed to promote their integration.
The Family reunification will no longer be automatic and it will only be possible for those who participate in these work or study routes.
Se will reduce access to public benefits, such as housing subsidies or social assistance, for those who can support themselves, with the aim of reducing incentives to migrate to the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, the direct help from the government, which includes temporary accommodation and maintenance while the asylum application is resolved, will no longer be by defaultoy will only be offered to those who comply with the law, cooperate with authorities and accept the relocation conditions.
Seized jewelry
The Executive will require asylum seekers to have assets or income that contribute to their maintenance and may confiscate your assets such as jewelry and valuables if you discover them later.
In any case, objects that have sentimental valuesuch as wedding rings or certain family jewelry, will not be seized
Se will end the controversial use of hotels as accommodation for potential refugees and will gradually move them to military or community-type facilities.
Se They will intensify the deportations of those who do not have the right to remain in the countryincluding families, who will be offered financial support to facilitate voluntary return.
The Government continues negotiating agreements with third countries considered safe to send there asylum seekers whose case has been rejected in the UK but who cannot legally be returned to their places of origin.
will be applied sanctionssuch as the denial of visas, to countries that do not cooperate with the return of their citizens. In this sense, the Executive has already alerted the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Angola of this penalty.
Besides, The British Government will change the human rights law to restrict the application of article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), relating to respect for family and private life. It will also try to reform article 3 of the ECHR to prevent abusive use of torture complaints.
Safe and legal routes
Add that New avenues of safe and legal access will be created for genuine refugeeswith limited and controlled quotas.
will be encouraged community sponsorship, allowing organizations and individuals to support the integration of refugees in a planned and supervised manner, within quotas set by the Government.
According to the document, Since 2021, more than 400,000 people have requested asylum in the United Kingdom, compared to about 150,000 in the period from 2011 to 2015. Of the 111,800 applicants who arrived this year, only 37% did so initially with a legal visa.
Since the Labor Government came to power in July 2024, 85,000 applications have been resolved and more than 48,000 returns have been made, including 5,400 of foreign criminals.
At the moment, about 106,000 immigrantsand are located in the United Kingdom awaiting the resolution of their asylum application in accommodation paid for by the State, which had a daily cost of around 10.2 million euros at the peak of 2023.