UNHCR criticises UK’s 30-year ‘earned settlement’ plans for refugees
Summary
The UN refugee agency said the UK’s plan to make some refugees wait up to 30 years to apply for settlement raises significant concerns. The government retained longer waits for people who arrived by irregular routes, while allowing care workers to apply after five years; refugee advocates also criticized the policy.Key Facts
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced changes to the government’s immigration plans earlier this week.
- The plan keeps a possible wait of up to 30 years for refugees who arrived by irregular routes.
- Some refugees can shorten the maximum wait through work or study, but people arriving by small boats or concealed in lorries face a 10-year penalty.
- The government created an exemption allowing care workers to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years.
- UNHCR said extended settlement waits, short-term stay arrangements and limits on access to citizenship could undermine refugees’ security and ability to integrate.
- UNHCR welcomed the introduction of legal routes but said they would be available to only a small minority of people seeking sanctuary, according to the article.
- The Helen Bamber Foundation said the policy could harm refugees, including survivors of torture and trafficking.
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