Shabana Mahmood accused of mimicking Trump as she announces asylum plans | Immigration and asylum

Shabana Mahmood has put herself on a collision course with Labor MPs after announcing a series of changes to the immigration system that she said mimicked Donald Trump and another that she claimed would lead to a Windrush-style scandal.

The home secretary laid out plans on Thursday, including ending permanent refugee status and removing government support for asylum seekers deemed to be in need or who have broken the law.

It has also launched a pilot project to pay up to £40,000 to 150 families whose asylum claims have been rejected to leave the country voluntarily or be forcibly deported by law enforcement. These families were contacted and given seven days to decide whether to accept the offer.

In his speech in central London, Mahmood said: “The generosity of the British people will be conditional on asylum seekers obeying the law, living by our rules and not working.

“Taxpayer-funded housing will be available as a backup for those who, like any British citizen, have no right to work and would otherwise remain destitute. Rights must come with responsibilities, and British taxpayers cannot be expected to fund the lives of those who refuse.”

He said proposals were needed to restore control of the border and combat the growing appeal of far-right parties such as Reform UK. “If we can’t solve these problems, others who don’t have any of our values ​​will be given the opportunity to do so,” he said.

The plans triggered an immediate backlash from Labor MPs, who said they were unfair and risked further alienating core Labor support following the damage the Greens suffered in the by-election last week.

Tony Vaughan, the Labor MP for Folkestone and Hythe, organized a letter which he said was signed by 100 of his party colleagues and said the proposals undermined the government’s commitment to integration and social cohesion.

He said: “As Labor we can change our immigration system for the better without forgetting who we are.

“You cannot restore public trust in the asylum system by threatening to forcibly remove refugees who have been living here legally for 15-20 years. This will only fuel distrust and fragmented communities.”

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy echoed his sentiments, saying: “There is nothing ‘fair’ about spending money constantly asking victims of trafficking and civil war whether they are still in that category, especially when we have already granted them refugee status and confirmed they are at risk of harm.

“Ukrainians, Iranians [and] All Afghans will now live in constant uncertainty, unable to plan any life either here or in their own country as they cannot guarantee their status, making it easier for them to be exploited. I look forward to reading NAO [National Audit Office] report and the inevitable Windrush-style scandal that none of us have a manifesto to implement.

Sarah Owen, a leader of the Tribune group of centre-left Labor MPs, said: “Of course we need an immigration system that is both reliable and fair, but the Home Office’s touting fails to meet either criterion.

“Idea to deport children mimics Trump’s ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] detention of children.

“It cannot be justified to shift the crosshairs of people who raise their lives to work in and for our country. This, and the language in which it is presented, will only have negative consequences for our economy, integration and social cohesion at a time when communities are already stretched to breaking point.”

“This is a politically and morally wrong direction for both the party and the country,” he said.

Labor MPs are now preparing for a possible House of Commons revolt over the issue. Some of Mahmood’s plans, including reviewing people’s refugee status every 30 months, could be implemented without a parliamentary vote, while others would need approval from MPs.

On Thursday the home secretary drafted three pieces of secondary legislation that would allow him to remove support from asylum seekers who are sentenced to 12 months or more and are deemed to be working or have enough money to support themselves. Labor MPs now have 40 days to object to the proposals and force a formal vote on the issue.

Towards the end of this year, Mahmood plans to introduce separate legislation to make it harder for some people to gain settled status in the UK. Some people, such as benefit claimants, will have to wait 10 years before becoming eligible; This means twice the available time.

Refugee groups criticized the plans on Thursday. Mubeen Bhutta, policy director at the British Red Cross, said: “There is little evidence that making life difficult is stopping people forced to flee their homes from coming to the UK.”

Others criticized the government’s proposal to forcibly remove families (including children) who refuse an offer to leave the country voluntarily.

While in opposition, Labor opposed expanded child detention powers in the Illegal Immigration Bill 2023, and the government removed them from the statute book in 2025.

Imran Hussain, the Refugee Council’s chief communications officer, said: “Giving families just seven days to decide whether to uproot their children’s lives risks creating chaos rather than control, often without access to appropriate legal advice.

“Many families do not feel safe returning to their countries of origin. No one wants to see distressed children detained and forced to be deported.”