UK home secretary faces criticism over 30-year settlement plan for asylum seekers

Shabana Mahmood, the UK home secretary, has been criticised for extending the settlement timeline for successful asylum applicants from five years to up to 30 years. The Guardian reported that people previously told they could apply for indefinite leave after five years now fall under a 30‑year “earned settlement” plan, affecting around 200,000 refugees.

The Refugee Council said the hardening of the rules has caused “distress and uncertainty” to hundreds of thousands of refugees. It added that the change comes despite Mahmood’s personal reassurances last year that only “illegal entrants who are not refugees will face a 30-year wait for settlement”.

The council’s comments highlight a gap between the home secretary’s earlier statements and the new policy, raising concerns about the impact on refugee integration and public confidence in immigration promises.

Why it matters

The shift to a 30‑year settlement period could delay refugees’ ability to secure long‑term status, affecting their integration and trust in government commitments.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

5 Nov 2026, 18:40 IST

Key names

Shabana Mahmood, UK, Refugee Council

Section

World

Figure cited

The Refugee Council said the home secretary’s hardening of plans came despite her personal reassurances last year that only “illegal entrants who are not refugees will face a 30-year wait for settlement”. (The Guardian)

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianMahmood accused of hardening rules for 200,000 successful asylum applicants 5 Nov, 18:40

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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