LONDON: Two Sudanese asylum seekers in the UK are legally challenging a central part of the government’s plans to remove basic rights from refugees, in a rejection of the claim that they are “asylum shoppers,” The Guardian reported on Wednesday.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to halve refugees’ leave-to-remain allowance in the UK from five years to 30 months.
People could previously apply for permanent settlement in the UK after five years, but refugees will now have to wait 20 years before being eligible under the new plans.
The two asylum seekers challenging the change — who faced torture in Sudan — argue that the policy is indirectly discriminatory and would fail to deter asylum seekers.
Last year, 96 percent of Sudanese asylum claims resulted in a grant of protection.
A policy paper published that year included claims by Mahmood that even “genuine refugees” are “shopping” their way across Europe in search of the most desirable country to claim asylum in.
The UN’s refugee agency condemned the new policy in December, saying: “Such a change would place additional administrative and costly burdens on the asylum system, create greater uncertainty for refugees and negatively affect integration and social cohesion.”
Mahmood is also restricting the right for refugees to bring immediate family members, such as spouses and children under 18, with them to Britain.
Before such reunifications are approved, refugees will need to demonstrate their capacity to provide financial support for family members. Refugee status is rarely withdrawn once granted.
Many refugees intend to return home, but the conditions that caused them to flee their home country often persist for many years.
Denmark and Norway carried out a review of refugee status in 2024, and withdrew just 48 and 29 grants, respectively.
The two Sudanese asylum seekers are being represented by Manini Menon, a solicitor at Duncan Lewis, who said: “The home secretary’s position is that her policy will deter small boat arrivals, and will ensure that only people who genuinely need protection will have leave as refugees in the UK. Our clients argue that the home secretary’s policy is flawed and discriminatory.
“The evidence from countries such as Denmark and Australia is clear: granting temporary status to refugees will exacerbate mental and physical ill-health, adversely affect social integration, and increase refugees’ risk of economic instability and of falling into poverty.”
