Migrants found guilty of sexual offences will no longer be eligible to claim asylum in Britain under a new law aimed at strengthening border security, the government has announced.
Currently, under the Refugee Convention, countries can reject asylum applications from individuals who have committed “particularly serious” crimes and pose a danger to the community — typically applied to those sentenced to more than one year in prison.
Sir Keir Starmer’s new crackdown will extend this principle to cover anyone placed on the sex offenders register, regardless of the length of their sentence.
Changes Target Gaps Exposed by High-Profile Cases
Home Office sources said the move could have prevented figures such as Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi, who was convicted of sexual offences in 2018, from being granted asylum.
However, officials declined to provide an estimate of how many migrants could be affected by the revised legislation.
The new measure will be included as an amendment to the government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.
Ministers hope the stricter policy will send a strong signal that sexual crimes are treated with “the seriousness they deserve”.
Tighter Deadlines for Asylum Appeals
The reforms will also introduce a 24-week target for first-tier immigration tribunals to process appeals for those living in asylum-supported accommodation or foreign national offenders.
The aim is to accelerate decisions and help clear the asylum backlog, which has placed enormous strain on public finances.
Speaking on Tuesday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged that “other obstacles” could still hinder the removal of failed asylum seekers. However, she told Times Radio that efforts are ongoing to dismantle these barriers, stating:
“The first step is to remove someone’s entitlement to asylum protection if they have committed these serious crimes.”
Political Pressure Grows Ahead of Local Elections
The announcement comes as Labour braces for a challenging set of local elections, with Sir Keir Starmer admitting the contests would be “tough”.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party continues to make gains in the polls, repeatedly accusing Labour of being too soft on migration.
Nonetheless, Yvette Cooper insisted Labour’s approach would help reduce the asylum backlog, end the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers, and save taxpayers billions of pounds.
She said: “We are changing the law to help clear the backlog, end the use of asylum hotels, and save billions for the taxpayer.”
