UK set to announce stricter asylum rules amid rising anger over migration

The UK is preparing to introduce its most comprehensive asylum reforms in decades, aiming to deter undocumented migrants and streamline deportations. Refugee status will become temporary, subject to regular review and possible revocation if their home country is deemed safe. Permanent residency applications will now take up to 20 years, four times longer than the current five-year pathway. The changes, inspired by Denmark’s strict asylum policies, are part of the government’s efforts to reduce small boat crossings, which saw over 39,000 arrivals this year alone.
Critics, including Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, argue the reforms will fail to address underlying challenges and could leave vulnerable individuals in prolonged uncertainty. As Labour pushes for stricter measures, asylum seekers housed in hotels—like those in Epping—await clarity on how these plans will impact their lives. Promised changes include ending hotel accommodation by 2029 and introducing stricter conditions for support. The reforms highlight growing political pressure amid rising anti-migration sentiment in the UK.

Al Jazeera’s Charlie Angela reports from Epping, England.

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