Britain's New Asylum Rules: Tougher Stance on Immigration

Britain is making big changes to how it handles people seeking asylum. The government wants to make it harder for them to stay permanently. Now, they have to wait 20 years instead of 5 before they can settle down. This is a big shift from the current rules. The government also plans to check on refugees more often. If things get better in their home countries, they might have to go back. Asylum seekers won't get automatic help like housing or money. They will have to find jobs while waiting for their claims to be processed. The new rules are similar to Denmark's system. Denmark's policies have cut down on the number of asylum seekers. But these policies have been criticized by human rights groups. Still, other countries are looking at Denmark as an example. In Britain, the new rules have mixed reactions. Some people support the tougher stance, while others worry it's too harsh. The government says it has already deported 50, 000 people who entered the country illegally since July 2024. The political scene has changed a lot. Prime Minister Keir Starmer used to see the issue as a law enforcement problem. Now, the government is saying the asylum system is making Britain a magnet for migrants. Britain gets fewer asylum claims than other European countries. But it's still a big issue. Pakistanis are the largest group seeking asylum in Britain. Critics say the new plan sounds like far-right parties. But with Labour's majority, the plan will likely become law. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has immigrant roots. She says illegal migration is dividing communities. She sees the new rules as a moral mission to fix the problem.