The Home Office has toughened up guidance to make it nearly impossible for refugees to become British citizens if they travel to the UK by small boat.
The move has sparked an outcry from Labour MPs and refugee charities, who urged the government to reconsider.
On Monday, the department updated guidance for staff assessing refugees so it now says applicants who have “made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship”.
Under the previous guidance, refugees who arrived in the UK by irregular routes would be required to wait 10 years before being considered for citizenship.
The Refugee Council, which estimates the update will prevent over 70,000 refugees from obtaining British citizenship, said the move “flies in the face of reason”.
The clarification to case worker guidance used for assessing if a claimant is of “good character’ reads: “Any person applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025, who previously entered the UK illegally will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry took place.”
Another new entry to the same guidance says: “A person who applies for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who has previously arrived without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation, having made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship.
“A dangerous journey includes, but is not limited to, travelling by small boat or concealed in a vehicle or other conveyance.”
Labour MP Nadia Whittome accused the government of continuing the “performative cruelty we saw from the Conservatives”.
“What’s the point in refusing citizenship to refugees who have ‘made a dangerous journey’? What’s the point in publishing footage of people being deported? I’m sorry to say that this is simply a continuation of the performative cruelty we saw from the Conservatives,” she posted to social media.
Meanwhile, Stella Creasy posted to X: “This should be changed asap. If we give someone refugee status, it can’t be right to then refuse them [a] route to become a British citizen.
“You can refuse to give asylum as we all know happens but this isn’t that. This is refusing citizenship to someone who has permission to stay indefinitely because of risk of harm. They aren’t ‘awful’. They are stateless and if this not reconsidered voiceless.”
She added: “Frankly, this process would deny Paddington Bear – he did the same thing, he came by an irregular route but we gave him sanctuary.”
In the 1958 children’s story, Paddington arrives as a stowaway from “Darkest Peru”, sent by his Aunt Lucy. Author Michael Bond said he was inspired by Jewish children arriving in Britain after fleeing Nazi persecution.
It came as the Tories claimed Labour are “dancing to our tune” on migration.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Just days ago, Labour claimed changes to border rules were ‘unworkable’. But now they’re dancing to our tune with a change in position they have been forced into.”
Meanwhile, Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “The British public want refugees who have been given safety in our country to integrate into and contribute to their new communities.
“So many refugees over many generations have become proud hard-working British citizens as doctors, entrepreneurs and other professionals. Becoming a British citizen has helped them give back to their communities and this should be celebrated, not prevented.”
Kolbassia Haoussou, director of survivor leadership and influencing at Freedom from Torture, described the move as a “dark moment in British history”.
“If the government really follows through with blocking refugees from getting citizenship, the UK will be taking a huge step backwards.
“Everyone deserves the chance to settle and fully integrate into society.”
“This latest decision is both profoundly disappointing and deeply damaging to the moral and cultural fabric of this country. We urge the government to immediately reconsider”, he added.
It comes just days after the Home Office faced criticism for publishing videos of immigration raids targeting illegal workers, with accusations of attempting imitate Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
The raids were publicised as home secretary Yvette Cooper’s landmark Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill returned to parliament for its second reading in the Commons on Monday.
The government also announced that thousands of migrants allegedly working illegally in nail bars, car washes and restaurants have been arrested as part of the government’s efforts to tighten UK border security.
Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle said the government is simply “enforcing the rules” by publishing the videos, but the Refugee Council accused the government of using performative stunts to try to promote division.
Dame Angela also denied Labour was seeking to copy Reform and said the government was showing those that “aspire to come to this country illegally” they will be caught.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “There are already rules that can prevent those arriving illegally from gaining citizenship.
“This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused.”
