The UK government announced it will prevent foreign nationals convicted of sexual offences from claiming asylum, as part of new immigration measures aimed at tightening border controls ahead of local elections. The UK is also looking to introduce reforms to speed up asylum decisions, deploy AI in asylum claim processing, and review how courts interpret migrants' rights to family life.
The UK government will bar foreign nationals convicted of sexual offences from seeking protection status as part of a broader effort to toughen immigration rules ahead of Thursday's (May 1) local elections.
The move, announced just days before the vote, comes amid mounting pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government to demonstrate stronger border control and speed up deportations of those denied asylum status.
Under a planned amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, anyone with a criminal record qualifying them for the sex offenders' register will be automatically disqualified from claiming asylum in Britain.
"Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK," said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
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UK reviews how courts interpret migrant's right to family life
The government is also accelerating changes to the asylum system, including setting new decision-making targets and deploying artificial intelligence to support caseworkers. As of the end of 2024, nearly 91,000 asylum applications were still awaiting an initial decision.
Migration remains a contentious issue in British politics, with net migration reaching a record 728,000 in the year to June 2024. So far in 2025, more than 10,000 asylum seekers have arrived in small boats -- a 40 percent increase over the same period last year -- generating support for populist groups like Reform UK, which has used the crisis to criticize Labour’s handling of immigration.
The government is also reviewing how courts apply Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life and is often cited in asylum appeals. Ministers argue that the courts’ current interpretation is too broad and may hinder effective removals.
"We are reviewing that because we do believe that the way in which it’s being interpreted in the courts is an issue," Cooper told Sky News on Tuesday.
With Reuters