Mahmood warns illegal migration is “tearing the country apart” as UK prepares sweeping asylum overhaul

Illegal migration is “tearing the country apart”, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has warned, ahead of unveiling one of the most ambitious and controversial asylum reforms in recent years. The new plan would require people granted asylum to wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement.

Under the proposals, refugee status would be reviewed every two and a half years, and people whose home countries later become safe would be expected to return. Mahmood told the BBC the reforms were part of her “moral mission” to restore fairness and public confidence in the asylum system.

The UK will also threaten visa bans against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo if they do not improve cooperation on removals. A Home Office source said these governments have shown “unacceptably low cooperation”.

The reform draws inspiration from Denmark, which operates one of Europe’s strictest asylum systems. Refugees there receive temporary permits and must reapply when they expire. Mahmood said migrants who come through “safe and legal routes”, work and contribute could settle earlier, though details remain unclear.

Political reaction has been intense: Conservatives dismissed the plans as “gimmicks”, saying they would instead deport illegal migrants “within a week”, while Liberal Democrats demand asylum seekers be allowed to work. Nigel Farage said Mahmood “sounds like a Reform supporter”, but argued human rights laws will block the reforms.

Refugee organisations strongly oppose the plan. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council said a 20-year waiting period would leave people “in years of constant anxiety”. He said a fair system processes claims efficiently and allows recognised refugees to contribute to society.

Government data shows applications are rising: 109,343 people sought asylum in the UK in the past year, a 17% increase. Since Mahmood took office in September, small boat arrivals have exceeded 10,289, with totals for 2025 already above 39,000.

Mahmood insists reform is necessary to counter criminal gangs who sell “migration packages” promising free accommodation and benefits, arguing that some asylum seekers receive “better conditions than vulnerable British citizens”.