UK to Cut Support for Asylum Seekers

Britain announced major cuts to asylum support, unveiling plans to limit refugee admissions and tighten long-term residency rules as part of a broader migration crackdown.

Britain has unveiled sweeping plans to tighten its asylum system, saying the reforms are designed to deter irregular migration and ease political pressure over rising arrivals.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the overhaul would “end the golden ticket for refugees,” signalling a major shift in how the UK grants protection and long-term residency.

Under the proposals, refugees who secure protection status would have to wait 20 years before applying for long-term settlement—up from the current five. Those from countries deemed safe would face return rather than extended stay.

The Home Office says the move follows an unprecedented surge of asylum applications, with about 111,000 claims registered in 2025, the highest on record. Officials argue the plan will reduce incentives for illegal entry and help the system cope with mounting pressures.

The government also intends to repeal a 2005 legal duty requiring Britain to provide protection to asylum seekers, a change that would make removals faster and reduce the UK’s appeal to undocumented migrants.

Rights groups and several UK media outlets warn the measures risk undermining international obligations and could leave vulnerable people without safeguards. They argue that restricting protections may heighten political tensions rather than solve them.

But ministers say the reforms are necessary to restore public confidence in migration policies and align the UK with other European countries adopting stricter asylum rules.

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