Three major children’s charities in the UK are urging Shabana Mahmood to reconsider her controversial immigration reform. Coram, Barnardo’s, and the Children’s Society are highlighting research showing that as many as 90,000 vulnerable children could face poverty due to changes in the indefinite leave to remain (ILR) rules proposed by Ms. Mahmood.
The charities argue that altering these rules unfairly impacts families who have made crucial decisions based on existing regulations. Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals that over 300,000 children already residing in the UK could be affected by the Home Secretary’s proposed earned settlement changes, potentially leading to 90,000 children living in poverty.
Currently, migrants can apply for ILR after five years in the UK. However, Ms. Mahmood aims to extend this to a 10-year period, emphasizing the need to earn the right to settle in the UK. Her proposal includes provisions for faster settlement for those contributing through community volunteering, with priority given to high earners and NHS staff.
Conversely, individuals relying on benefits or entering the country illegally would face penalties, including up to a 30-year waiting period. Migrant families may also have limited access to benefits, and their children would not be eligible for student finance as domestic applicants, potentially leading to higher education costs.
While the Home Secretary defends the reform as promoting fairness, the retroactive nature of the changes has sparked criticism. The charities stress that children come to the UK as children, not migrants, and reforms should not jeopardize the future of the younger generation.
The charities are advocating for the retention of current rules, such as granting ILR to seven-year-olds born in the UK. They are also pushing for a streamlined pathway for children who have spent seven years in the UK and for 18 to 24-year-olds who have lived in the country for half their lives.
Moreover, they are seeking guarantees that babies and children will not be subject to force. Dame Carol Homden, Chief Executive of Coram, emphasizes the importance of aligning settlement and asylum reforms with broader government goals for children, including addressing child poverty and promoting equal opportunities.
The proposal to apply ILR changes retroactively has faced opposition from Labour MPs, with former Deputy PM Angela Rayner criticizing it as “un-British” and a breach of trust. Despite this, recent polling indicates that 50% of the public supports Ms. Mahmood’s proposals, while 22% remain undecided.
The Home Office estimates that without intervention, 1.6 million individuals could gain permanent settlement by 2030 following a surge in net migration under the Conservative government. A Home Office spokesperson underscores the need for earned residence status, highlighting the historic levels of migration in recent years and ongoing consultations to implement the proposed changes.