A new independent body is being established by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to expedite asylum appeals and reduce the backlog of cases awaiting resolution.
The Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA) will focus on prioritizing high-risk foreign offenders, human rights claims considered to lack merit, and urgent modern slavery cases.
Expected to be operational by late 2027, the new system aims to streamline the process by establishing a single appeal route. Currently, asylum seekers can appeal a rejected claim and then submit further claims based on new grounds before facing removal.
Currently, it takes an average of 61 weeks to resolve cases, with over 150,000 immigration and asylum appeals pending. Officials have acknowledged that the existing system cannot sustainably manage the current caseload.
Shabana Mahmood commented, “The current appeals tribunal is overwhelmed, leading to individuals exploiting the system with frivolous appeals to delay their removal.”
She added, “Our new appeals body will ensure prompt and fair hearings. Legitimate claimants will have their cases heard promptly, while those abusing the system and lacking the right to stay in the country will be swiftly deported.”
This initiative is part of the controversial Immigration and Asylum Bill set to be presented to Parliament imminently. The proposed legislation aims to address challenges hindering deportations, as Mahmood argues that current laws are being exploited, eroding confidence in the system.
The reforms, which are anticipated to face opposition from certain Labour MPs, will include measures to restrict the use of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent deportations by narrowing family-related rules. Additionally, the bill will introduce stricter age verification processes to prevent adults posing as unaccompanied children from receiving local authority support.
Over the weekend, the Home Secretary announced plans to introduce new safe and legal routes for refugees to garner support from Labour MPs for the reforms. Proposed initiatives include a sponsorship scheme akin to Canada’s model, allowing communities and trusted universities to endorse refugees, as well as an employment-focused program.
This development follows a critical report released earlier this month by MPs highlighting systemic issues within the asylum system. The Public Accounts Committee expressed concern over cases where asylum seekers disappeared after their applications were rejected, as well as the lack of local authority input in housing placements. Despite pledges to close asylum hotels, the report noted a lack of clarity on relocating asylum seekers out of these facilities.
The Home Office recently revealed plans to expand the use of former military sites to accommodate asylum seekers, including locations such as MOD Bicester, RAF Barnham, and RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Additionally, ministers intend to extend the use of current asylum sites like Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.
Concerns have been raised by human rights organizations regarding the use of ex-military sites for housing asylum seekers. Kamena Dorling, Director of Policy at Helen Bamber Foundation, has
