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6h ago

UK to Bar Asylum for Foreign Sex Offenders in Major Immigration Law Update

The Home Secretary has introduced amendments to the Border Security Bill, expanding deportation powers and setting strict asylum appeal deadlines to address public safety concerns and reduce backlogs.

Britain's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit at Lancaster House in central London, Britain March 31, 2025. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Overview

  • Foreign nationals on the UK sex offenders register will now be classified as 'particularly serious criminals,' barring them from claiming refugee protections under the Refugee Convention.
  • The amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill introduces a 24-week deadline for asylum appeal decisions to expedite case processing and reduce the backlog.
  • The Home Office plans to deploy artificial intelligence to assist caseworkers by summarizing interviews and accessing country-specific advice, aiming to improve efficiency.
  • The reforms were sparked by high-profile cases like Abdul Ezedi, a convicted sex offender who was granted asylum before committing a chemical attack in 2024.
  • Over 10,000 Channel crossings have been recorded this year, intensifying pressures on the asylum system and prompting the government to target people-smuggling and end the use of hotels for asylum seekers.