A new independent body is being established to hasten the processing of asylum appeals and reduce the backlog of cases awaiting review. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will implement the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA), which will give priority to cases involving high-risk foreign offenders, human rights claims considered lacking in merit, and urgent modern slavery claims.
The goal of the new system, set to be operational by late 2027, is to streamline the process by establishing a single appeal pathway. Currently, asylum seekers can appeal a denied claim and then submit additional claims on new grounds before facing deportation.
Currently, the average time to resolve cases is 61 weeks, with over 150,000 immigration and asylum appeals pending. Officials argue that the current system cannot sustainably handle the volume of cases.
Ms. Mahmood emphasized the need for the new appeals body, stating that the current appeals tribunal is overwhelmed, leading to individuals exploiting the system by filing frivolous appeals to delay their removal.
The upcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is expected to be presented to Parliament soon, will introduce significant changes to facilitate deportations. The reforms aim to address loopholes in existing laws that are prone to misuse, eroding trust in the system.
Despite anticipated opposition from some Labour MPs, the legislation will include measures to limit the use of the European Convention on Human Rights to prevent deportations and enhance age verification processes to identify adults posing as unaccompanied children.
To garner support for the reforms, the Home Secretary pledged to introduce new safe and legal pathways for refugees, including a sponsorship scheme similar to Canada’s and an employer-led work program.
This initiative follows a critical report from MPs highlighting the challenges within the asylum system, including cases where rejected asylum seekers disappeared without a trace. Concerns were also raised about the lack of local authority involvement in housing placement decisions and the prolonged use of asylum hotels.
The Home Office recently announced plans to expand the use of ex-military sites to accommodate asylum seekers. However, human rights groups have expressed reservations, citing potential adverse effects on individuals’ mental and physical well-being.