Migrants convicted of sexual offences will no longer be able to claim asylum in the UK under a forthcoming change to the law, the Government has announced.
The new measure, aimed at strengthening border security, will be introduced through an amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently progressing through Parliament.
Under the existing rules, countries adhering to the Refugee Convention can refuse asylum to individuals who have committed “particularly serious crimes” and pose a danger to the community, typically defined in the UK as crimes leading to prison sentences of one year or more. However, ministers now seek to expand this criterion.
The change will ensure that anyone convicted of an offence that places them on the sex offenders register – irrespective of the length of their sentence – will automatically be denied refugee status.
Although it remains unclear how many people this could affect, a Home Office source said that cases such as that of Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi highlight the need for tougher rules. Ezedi, who was granted asylum despite a conviction for sexual offences, killed himself after attacking his ex-girlfriend and her children with alkali in south London last year.
Ezedi had been placed on the sex offenders register for a decade following convictions for sexual assault and exposure in 2018. Despite an earlier asylum claim being rejected, he was later granted refugee status on the basis of his conversion to Christianity and fears for his safety if returned to Afghanistan.
A Home Office source emphasised that the law change is not about “demonising” asylum seekers, but about upholding “high standards” in the asylum system. “People who seek asylum in Britain must respect the rules,” the source said.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK. We are strengthening the law to ensure these appalling crimes are taken seriously.”
She added: “Nor should asylum seekers be stuck in hotels at the taxpayers’ expense during lengthy legal battles. That is why we are changing the law to help clear the backlog, end the use of asylum hotels, and save billions of pounds for the taxpayer.”
Alongside the tougher asylum rules, the amendment will introduce a 24-week target for immigration tribunals to resolve appeals involving those in asylum-supported accommodation or foreign national offenders, aimed at reducing the current asylum backlog.
The Government’s move comes amid rising numbers of small boat crossings. Almost 10,000 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, with Monday’s figures expected to push the total beyond this threshold earlier in the year than ever before.
The reforms also tie into the Government’s broader ambition to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade. Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips stated: “That’s exactly why we are taking action to ensure there are robust safeguards across the system, including clamping down on foreign criminals who commit heinous crimes like sex offences.”
Meanwhile, the Home Office announced the deployment of artificial intelligence tools to assist caseworkers processing asylum claims. The technology is expected to speed up administrative tasks, such as summarising interview transcripts, potentially saving an hour per case.
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However, concerns have been raised about the use of AI in critical decision-making. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, warned that reliance on technology could backfire if it leads to flawed decisions, prolonging cases through court appeals.
The Law Society of England and Wales also voiced scepticism about the feasibility of the new 24-week tribunal target, noting that the already strained justice system could struggle to meet the deadline.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “There is a long wait for appeals to be processed due to the sheer volume of cases. Efforts to clear the legacy backlog have led to more initial claims being refused, resulting in an increasing number of appeals.”
The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill also proposes new offences against people smugglers and grants counter-terror powers to enforcement agencies to combat illegal crossings. In addition, it introduces measures to fine bogus immigration lawyers up to £15,000, ensuring stricter regulation across the sector.
