The opening speech for the second reading of the Immigration and Asylum Bill set out plans to cut the appeals backlog and introduce capped sponsored routes for refugees.
Asylum decisions and removals
The Home Office speech reported that asylum decisions reached a 24-year high. Removals stand at their highest level in nearly a decade, up 41% compared with the period before the current government took office. Nearly 10,000 foreign criminals have been deported or removed, 36% more than under the previous government.
Appeals backlog
The speech stated that more than 150,000 people now wait for an appeal decision. Average wait times exceed one year. The Bill aims to make claims fair and fast so legitimate claimants avoid extended limbo.
New sponsored routes
The speech announced new capped safe and legal routes for refugees. Communities, universities and businesses will be able to sponsor arrivals. Applications open this autumn. The first refugees arrive in autumn 2027. The routes start small and are intended to grow as unsafe arrivals fall.
This is general information drawn from the parliamentary speech.