UK Home Secretary Announces Stricter Asylum Measures Amid Political Debate

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan24 correspondent Dlovan Emaddaddin reported on Monday that British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unveiled a series of new, tougher measures on asylum and immigration during a parliamentary session, despite previous deportation agreements with Iraq and France still awaiting implementation.

Cooper announced stricter family immigration procedures and more rigorous English language requirements for those seeking to bring spouses to the UK. She also revealed that the minimum income threshold for marriage sponsorship would rise to approximately £47,000 per year—a substantial increase that many critics argue will make legal family reunification unattainable for ordinary citizens.

In August, London and Baghdad signed an agreement enabling the deportation of rejected Iraqi asylum seekers. However, the deal has not yet been enforced. A separate agreement reached last month with Paris aimed at returning refugees arriving by dinghies has also stalled. Under that plan, Britain would return about 50 refugees to France each week while accepting applicants who filed asylum claims legally in France.

Official figures show that from April 2023 to March 2024, around 31,000 refugees entered the UK. While arrivals by boat have declined compared to last year, the government insists on pursuing stricter measures, arguing that they are necessary to deter irregular migration.

The asylum issue has become a flashpoint in British politics, particularly in the run-up to elections, with political parties frequently linking economic difficulties to illegal immigration. The debate has also fueled growing social unrest. Weekly protests are held against hotels housing asylum seekers, and in a recent demonstration, hundreds of masked individuals gathered in London demanding deportation. The protest escalated into violent clashes with police.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, on Sunday pledged to deport around 600,000 asylum seekers if his party wins the 2029 elections. “This is not an easy task, but it will take five years to implement,” Farage stated.

Under his proposed plan, asylum seekers currently housed in British hotels would be transferred to military bases outside major cities until their deportation.

The proposal is seen as a more moderate solution that could ease pressure on the government while providing asylum seekers with a degree of stability. Human rights organizations have welcomed the idea, saying it would bring UK policy closer to international standards.