Introduction:

 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced reforms to the UK’s asylum policy on November 16, 2025. As Home Secretary of Home Office she is responsible for immigration, asylum, policing, national security, and oversight of MI5. 

 

The United Kingdom’s current asylum process changes:

 

1.  The status of refugees from permanent to needing to be reviewed every thirty months. 

 

2. Permanent settlement requirement changes from five years to twenty years.

 

3. Refugees are no longer guaranteed financial aid and housing.

 

4. The appeals process for deportation which used to be lengthy will now be fast-tracked.

 

5. Family rights will be restricted to immediate family as it was broad under the old system.

 

6. Visa bans can now be instituted on non-cooperative countries.

 

Why Is This Reform Happening?

 

There are a multitude of factors that have caused this reform. Firstly, there have been protests lately outside of hotels that asylum seekers stay in that is paid for by the government. The Bell Hotel, in Epping, which is just outside of London, is such an example. Citizens around the hotel felt unsafe in their neighborhoods because of the influx of asylum seekers. Secondly, over 39,000 people entered the UK illegally in 2025 and many of them did so by crossing the English Channel in small boats. Thirdly, The rise of the Reform UK party and growing anti-illegal immigration sentiment have pushed the Labour government to adopt stricter policies. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that, “the current asylum system is out of control, and tearing our country apart.” (David)

 

Criticisms:

 

This reform, which has been welcomed by the Reform UK party and many citizens of the United Kingdom, has not received a standing ovation by all. The backbench members of Parliament have expressed their criticism. Backbench members of parliament are people who are not part of the government (ministers) or the official opposition leadership. They sit literally on the “back benches” in the House of Commons. They often have more freedom to criticize policies, even if they belong to the governing party. 

 

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome stated, “It’s shameful that a Labour Government is ripping up the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma”  (Cooke and Stavrou).

 

Conclusion:

 

Nevertheless, support for the UK asylum reforms comes primarily from the Labour government itself, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, as well as those influenced by the rise of the far‑right Reform UK party. These reforms are being introduced through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2025, which was tabled earlier in the year (January 2025) and now serves as the framework for these changes. Members of Parliament must debate, amend, and vote on the bill. However, given the scale of the reforms, this process could take several months. Afterwards, once both Houses of Parliament approve the bill, it requires the monarch’s formal approval before becoming law.

 

Sources:

 

Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/33/contents Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

 

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/41/contents. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

 

Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004. Legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/19/contents. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

 

Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. Legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/11/contents. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

 

Immigration Act 2014. Legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/contents. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

 

Immigration Act 2016. Legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/19/contents. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

 

Nationality and Borders Act 2022. Legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/36/contents. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

 

David, Rohit. “Shabana Mahmood Says Current Migration Policies Are Destructive, Tearing Country Apart.” IBTimes UK, 17 Nov. 2025, www.ibtimes.co.uk/shabana-mahmood-says-current-migration-policies-are-destructive-tearing-country-apart-1755532. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025

 

Cooke, Millie, and Stavrou, Athena. “Labour Backlash Grows over ‘Dystopian’ and ‘Visionless’ Asylum Crackdown.” The Independent, 17 Nov. 2025, www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/shabana-mahmood-immigration-asylum-seekers-labour-starmer-latest-b2866043.html. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.