UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveils major asylum reforms in Immigration and Asylum Bill

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has presented the Immigration and Asylum Bill, describing it as the biggest overhaul of the UK asylum system in decades. The legislation proposes creating an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA) staffed by trained members of the public to replace judges in asylum appeals, a move aimed at clearing a backlog that Home Office ministers say exceeds 150,000 cases and takes an average of 61 weeks to resolve.

Key provisions include requiring successful asylum seekers to repay up to £10,000 toward the cost of their accommodation and support once they start earning, stripping judges of the power to decide appeals, and tightening the use of human‑rights claims, especially those based on family life under the European Convention on Human Rights. Modern‑slavery claims will no longer automatically block deportations, and deportations of foreign‑national offenders will become easier. The bill has drawn criticism from peers in the House of Lords, legal experts, and refugee‑rights groups, who warn of potential bias in the new adjudicators and fear the reforms could create chaos in the Home Office.

Supporters argue the changes will restore public confidence and protect the system from abuse, while opponents label the contribution requirement a "tax on refugees" and call the reforms "performative cruelty".