The Joint Committee on Human Rights is holding a legislative scrutiny inquiry to consider the implications of the Immigration and Asylum Bill for human rights.
The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 30 June 2026. It gives effect to some of the reforms set out in the government’s policy statement of 21 November 2025, “Restoring Order and Control”.
The Bill:
- establishes a new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority, replacing the existing First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum)
- makes provision about how courts and tribunals should interpret Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- gives the Secretary of State power to replace refugee and humanitarian protection claims and grants of leave with a single ‘core protection’ model
- provides for the recovery of asylum support costs
- makes changes to the modern slavery regime.
Other steps that the government has taken to give effect to its policy statement include:
- changes to the Immigration Rules to shorten leave to remain for refugees
- revoking the duty to support asylum seekers
- making illegal working a breach of asylum support rules
- with other member states of the Council of Europe, agreeing the Chişinău Declaration on 15 May 2026.