UK government set to make support for asylum seekers ‘discretionary’ | Immigration and asylum

Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce changes to the UK’s asylum system on Monday in a bid to quell growing fears about immigration.

The home secretary plans to change laws guaranteeing housing and financial support to asylum seekers who would otherwise remain destitute.

The government said the aid would become “discretionary”, meaning aid could be denied to those who are able to work or have assets.

Mahmood described the package of proposals as “the most comprehensive reforms to combat illegal immigration in modern times” and designed to “restore control and fairness in the system”.

He added: “This country has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger, but our generosity is drawing illegal immigrants across the Channel. The speed and scale of migration is putting huge pressure on communities.”

However, it seems unlikely that the majority of asylum seekers currently receiving support will be affected by this situation. Government sources said the rules, which mean most asylum seekers are not allowed to have jobs, will not change.

Around 100,000 people receive asylum support in England, the vast majority of whom are housed by the state. Nearly a third remain in hotels, although Labor has pledged to end the practice by 2029.

Approximately 8,500 people staying in shelters have the right to work because they entered the country with a visa and later requested asylum.

Visa-free people whose claims are still outstanding after one year through no fault of their own are sometimes allowed to work in paid work, but this only occurs in a limited number of areas where there is considered a significant shortage of suitable candidates.

Although there are around 19,000 people waiting more than 12 months for an asylum decision, the Guardian understands that many do not meet the criteria and not all eligible people are employed.

The government did not say how much it expects to save as a result of these measures, but added that asylum seekers who break the rules could be exempt from financial support, which could further reduce costs.

A spokesman said: “In a historic move, automatic benefits for those seeking asylum will end.

“The legal duty to provide support to asylum seekers, introduced under EU law in 2005, meant guaranteed, unconditional financial assistance to anyone seeking asylum who would otherwise remain destitute.

“This is ending. Support will no longer be a given, but a discretionary power.

“This means the Home Office can refuse assistance to people who are able to work, have assets, disobey restraining orders, are involved in crime, disrupt housing or work illegally.”

However, sources said these are not “general” rules and cases will continue to be evaluated on an individual basis, taking into account mitigating factors.

The changes are perceived as a step forward for Labor voters who are considering supporting Reform at the next general election. The plans are thought to be disliked by some of the party’s MPs, particularly those worried about losing support to the Greens and Liberal Democrats, but the government has said a rebellion is unlikely to be tolerated.

Government officials are also expected to launch a consultation on “additional requirements that migrants must follow to receive and maintain assistance,” with prioritized “contributors and integraters.”

Mahmood is understood to announce that those granted asylum can be sent back to their home countries if they are deemed safe, a policy modeled on the controversial Danish system.

Refugees are currently granted protection for five years, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain, which offers a route to British citizenship.

The reforms will also include people arriving illegally having to wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement, according to the Sunday Times newspaper.

The changes are expected to apply only to newcomers.

A delegation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs traveled to Copenhagen earlier this year to examine immigration reforms in the country controlled by the centre-left Social Democrats. The overhaul in Denmark is thought to have helped the party resist electoral challenges from the populist right.

Excluding data from 2020, when major travel restrictions were imposed due to the pandemic, the number of successful asylum claims processed in Denmark is at its lowest level in 40 years.

Although protection is normally provided to people targeted by foreign regimes, the Danish government reserves the right to repatriate refugees when deemed safe.

Denmark also tightly controls which refugees can bring family members into the country. Those living in public housing designated as “parallel societies”, where more than half of the population comes from “non-Western” origins, cannot benefit from this right.

The law also gives the state the authority to demolish residences on these sites. Although the government says this is meant to promote integration, an EU official recently raised concerns about possible discrimination. The left of the British Labor Party has been vocal in its criticism of the Danish system.

Reform’s lead in the polls has been driven in part by an increase in small boat sailings over the past five years; This is a trend that successive governments have tried to reverse.

The party has promised that if it comes to power, people arriving in the UK on small boats will not be allowed to seek asylum.