فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Fez News – International Policies and Migration
London – The British government announced on Saturday a comprehensive plan to reform the asylum system, described by its officials as “the biggest change in modern times,” aimed at controlling illegal immigration and enhancing refugees’ economic contribution. According to a Home Office statement, the reforms include making refugee status temporary for 30 months instead of five years, extending the waiting period for permanent residency to 20 years, with the possibility of returning refugees to their countries once deemed safe.
Details of Key Reforms
The ministry, headed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, reported that the reforms focus on reviewing financial and housing support mechanisms for asylum seekers, eliminating the legal obligation to provide accommodation and weekly allowances for those able to work or who have committed legal violations. It confirmed that taxpayer-funded support will be exclusively allocated to individuals contributing to the economy and local community development, making support “discretionary” for others, allowing its denial to those who can support themselves or possess assets.
Additionally, the new system will subject refugee status to periodic review, with the possibility of returning them to their countries of origin if deemed safe, inspired by the Danish model that led to a 40% reduction in applications and the return of 95% of rejected applicants. The reforms will be presented to Parliament on Monday, amid expectations that they will reduce the UK’s attractiveness for illegal immigration, especially Channel boat crossings which reached 39,000 cases this year.
Political Context and Criticisms
These reforms come amid increasing political pressure on Keir Starmer’s Labour government, with rising popularity of the right-wing anti-immigration Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage, which leads polls with double-digit percentages. Mahmood confirmed that the reforms will close the “golden ticket” for asylum seekers, focusing on opening limited safe and legal pathways for refugees, though they will exceed Danish and other European standards in some aspects.
The reforms have drawn sharp criticism from rights organizations such as the Refugee Council and Freedom from Torture, which described them as “fostering a hostile environment for migrants” and weakening protection, prolonging uncertainty for refugees and punishing those who have already suffered. They noted it will not prevent new arrivals but will increase suffering, calling for reconsideration.
With 109,343 asylum applications recorded in the year ending March 2025 – the highest level since 2002 – the reforms aim to regain control of the system, but raise fears of losing progressive voter support to the Liberal Democrats or Green Party.
