London, United Kingdom, March 2, 2026 — Responding to the implementation of asylum changes announced today by the Home Secretary, Flora Alexander, Executive Director of IRC UK, said,
“Cutting refugee protection from five years to just 30 months creates uncertainty, fuels anxiety, and strips away the stability people need to rebuild their lives. There is no evidence these measures will deter dangerous journeys; instead, they will push recognised refugees into deeper insecurity and make it harder for them to put down roots, find stable work, secure housing, build relationships in their communities, and contribute their skills.
These measures will be costly to the taxpayer and require significant Home Office resources at a time when substantial backlogs for initial asylum applications persist, all whilst doing nothing to address the factors that force people to flee in the first place.
The ongoing suspension of refugee family reunion keeps families apart and makes it even harder for people to rebuild their lives. A well-functioning system is one that delivers swift, fair decisions and enables people to move forward - not one that traps them in prolonged uncertainty or weakens community cohesion.”
ENDS