Thank you to those constituents who have contacted me regarding immigration policy. The Government gives regular updates on immigration reforms including refugee status and visa brakes and on Monday (9 March) it responded to an Urgent Question on its immigration policy.
The Border Security and Asylum Minister reiterated that after years of chaos and crisis, our immigration system must see some order and control restored. The Government has now taken steps to implement the changes it announced in November last year, namely that refugee status will now be reviewed every 30 months. After this time, this status will be reviewed and those with a continuing need for protection will of course have that protection renewed, while those who no longer have a protection need will be expected to return home.
In addition, the Government has confirmed that it is introducing a visa brake for specific routes into the UK where evidence shows a consistently high number of visa-linked asylum claims. From 26 March, it will refuse applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and other nationalities may face similar measures in the future. Due to the number of asylum claims and to prevent visa misuse, it has also introduced visit visa requirements and direct airside transit visa requirements on nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia.
The Government has tabled further legislative changes to change the current legal duty to provide support to asylum seekers, instead restoring this to a power to provide support so that those who are able to support themselves do so. It is also amending existing conditions of support legislation to enable the suspension or discontinuation of asylum support when an asylum seeker is working illegally.
Lastly, Ministers have started a consultation on the Government’s approach to family returns, which will explore reforms to the support available to families with no legal basis to remain in the UK and the approach to be used when enforcing the returns of families who have not departed voluntarily.
The UK has as long and proud tradition of granting asylum to those fleeing persecution and that will continue, but at the same time we have to ensure that the rules are observed so that everyone can be treated fairly.
Best wishes
Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland