UK Asylum Overhaul to Expedite Removals, Cut Illegal Immigration

The UK government set out a model with temporary refugee status, tougher support rules, and expanded removals.
UK Asylum Overhaul to Expedite Removals, Cut Illegal Immigration
Migrants wade through the sea to board a small boat leaving the beach in an attempt to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel, in Gravelines, France, on May 31, 2025. Gareth Fuller/PA
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The UK on Nov. 17 announced the biggest overhaul of its asylum and returns system in decades to cut illegal immigration and remove more people whose claims fail.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a policy paper published on Nov. 17 that the new approach was designed to restore “order and control” at the border while preserving the principle that people fleeing genuine danger should still find refuge in the UK.

Evgenia Filimianova
Evgenia Filimianova
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Evgenia Filimianova is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of international stories, with a particular interest in foreign policy, economy, and UK politics.