The UK government, under Home Secretary Shabbana Mahmood, is actively implementing new asylum and immigration policies modeled heavily on Denmark's strict system

 

Yes, the UK government, under Home Secretary Shabbana Mahmood, is actively implementing new asylum and immigration policies modeled heavily on Denmark's strict system, focusing on temporary refugee status (requiring long waits for settlement), stricter family reunion rules, tighter integration requirements like asset seizure for costs, and a push for faster removals, aiming to reduce incentives for asylum seekers and control borders, though critics worry about humanitarian standards and mirroring far-right rhetoric.

 

Key elements of the UK's "Danish Model" reforms:

Temporary Status: Refugee status will be temporary, with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) requiring a much longer wait (e.g., 20 years, versus Denmark's 8).

Periodic Review: Status will be reviewed every 2.5 years, with potential deportation if the home country is deemed safe.

Family Reunion: Tighter rules with higher age, income, and integration requirements.

Integration Controls: Borrowing from Denmark's "ghetto package," this includes measures to tackle "parallel societies," potentially selling social housing in certain areas.

Asset Seizure: Asylum seekers could have assets, including jewelry, seized to cover accommodation costs.

Human Rights Law: Efforts to prioritize public safety over migrant's rights under human rights laws (like Article 8).

Faster Removals: Strengthening powers to remove failed asylum seekers.

 

Rationale and Concerns:

Government Goal: To cut illegal migration, reduce incentives, regain public trust, and deliver on promises to "stop the boats," notes Sky News and BBC.

Criticism: Critics, including the Scottish Refugee Council, argue these policies risk dehumanizing migrants and pushing political discourse toward far-right narratives, notes Scottish Refugee Council and YouTube.

Context: The UK, unlike Denmark, faces unique challenges with small boat crossings, but seeks to emulate Denmark's success in significantly reducing asylum claims, according to Al Jazeera and InfoMigrants.