Our response to the proposed asylum reforms
The Welsh Refugee Council is deeply concerned by the UK Government’s proposed asylum reforms. For generations, the UK has been a place where people fleeing war and persecution could find safety. These proposals risk pulling us away from that proud tradition at the very moment the world needs leadership and compassion.
In Wales, our Nation of Sanctuary vision starts from a simple truth: people begin rebuilding their lives the moment they feel safe. When someone is recognised as a refugee but only offered a short-term status, what follows isn’t safety: it’s limbo. You can’t settle your children in school, plan for work, or put down roots if you’re asked to live with one eye on the calendar and one on the door. Certainty isn’t a luxury; it’s the foundation of a stable, thriving life.
We share UNHCR’s concern that adding more barriers and complexity won’t deter the dangerous journeys people take when they have no other options. Instead, it risks longer delays, higher costs, and deeper human suffering. And it is particularly disappointing to see the UK borrow ideas from the Danish system — an approach that experts across Europe have repeatedly warned creates insecurity without solving any of the real issues. We can, and should, aim higher.
We are also troubled by proposals that punish people because of the route they took to reach safety. When you’re fleeing bombs, militias, or persecution, you don’t get to choose the perfect path — you take the one that keeps you alive. A fair asylum system recognises this.
Wales has spent years building a culture of Croeso — welcome — grounded in dignity, fairness, and the belief that we all do better when everyone feels safe. Policies that undermine those values don’t just affect refugees; they make it harder for communities to trust, to connect, and to stand together.
We are calling on the UK Government to work with devolved nations, UNHCR, and refugee organisations to choose a better path: one that is humane, efficient, and rooted in evidence. A path that gives people real safety, supports communities, and reflects the best of who we are.
Andrea Cleaver – CEO