An LGBTQ+ refugee charity has condemned proposed changes to the UK asylum system, highlighting how such sweeping changes disproportionately harm LGBTQ+ refugees seeking safety and protection.
The UK home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, told the BBC on November 16 that immigration is “tearing the country apart” and placing an “intense strain on communities.” Her remarks precede the publication of a major overhaul of the asylum system scheduled for November 17.
Criticism from Human Rights Groups
Her comments have been widely criticized by human rights groups, as well as members of Labour, for stoking divisions about migrant communities.
Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, has accused the home secretary of “ethnic stereotyping” following remarks made in the Commons about 700 Albanian families living in taxpayer-funded accommodation after failing their asylum claims.
On social media, Rama questioned how Mahmood could “so poorly echo the rhetoric of the populist far-right” and singled out 700 families as a minor issue compared to broader challenges facing post-Brexit Britain.
Changes to Asylum Status
The proposed changes will see refugee status become temporary, reviewed every 30 months, with some individuals facing potential return to their home countries if deemed “safe.” Moreover, some migrants may wait up to 20 years for settled status, and the legal obligation to provide asylum seekers with support is set to end.
The Home Office stated that these changes will make Britain’s settlement system “by far the most controlled and selective in Europe.”
Minesh Parekh, policy and public affairs manager at Rainbow Migration, criticized the changes as an attempt by the government to punish those seeking safety, labeling them as “disgraceful.”
He emphasized that making refugee status conditional on the safety of one’s country of origin could severely impact LGBTQ+ individuals, as determining safety is complex and often fails to reflect the realities they face.
Parekh cited examples where countries like India, Georgia, and Albania are deemed “safe,” despite evidence of human rights abuses against LGBTQ+ people. He also highlighted the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals encounter in accessing housing and financial support, which could worsen under the proposed changes.
He concluded that ministers have an opportunity to establish a fairer system that protects human rights and keeps individuals safe, urging them to shift towards a politics of hope rather than division.
