The UK government has announced stricter immigration policies, barring undocumented migrants, including those arriving on small boats, from obtaining British citizenship. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that the new guidance reinforces existing measures, ensuring that anyone entering the UK illegally will have their citizenship application refused.
Political and Legal Backlash
The policy shift comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government faces growing pressure to reduce migration, especially after Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party gained around four million votes in the last general election, marking a significant shift in right-wing support.
However, the new rules have sparked criticism. Labour MP Stella Creasy condemned the move, arguing that denying citizenship to recognized refugees would leave them “forever second class.” The Free Movement blog also described the policy as “spiteful and damaging to integration,” warning that it could immediately block a large number of refugees from naturalization.
Border Crackdown and Rising Arrivals
The announcement coincides with debates on the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which aims to disrupt migrant smuggling gangs with counter-terror-style powers. Upon taking office, Starmer scrapped former PM Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation plan but vowed to crack down on human traffickers. Despite these efforts, migrant crossings surged by 25% in 2024, with 36,816 people detected in the English Channel, up from 29,437 in 2023.
