A Greater Manchester charity say the government’s sweeping overhaul of the UK asylum system could increase hardship and uncertainty for people rebuilding their lives in the region.
On Monday 17 November, the government announced reforms to the asylum system which aims to reduce arrival and increase removals from the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the current system as “out of control and unfair.”
She warned MPs that failure to act would push the public “from anger into hatred.”
Under the plans, refugee status will no longer offer long-term security. Instead of five years’ protection, people will receive 30-month temporary status, which can be repeatedly reviewed, and revoked, if the government decides their home country is safe. The route to permanent residency could now stretch to 20 years.
Ministers say the changes will ease pressure on public services and reduce dangerous Channel crossings, such as small boat crossings. But critics, including several Labour MPs and dozens of charities, warn they could trap thousands in years of instability.
One of the most controversial shifts is the move from a legal duty to house destitute asylum seekers to a discretionary system, meaning support can now be refused if the government believes people could rely on income or assets elsewhere.
The change is expected to put additional pressure on councils and charities already struggling with homelessness in Greater Manchester.
Local organisations say shorter ‘move-on’ periods, reduced financial support and limits on family reunion will create a greater risk of rough sleeping among newly recognised refugees.
More than two dozen groups across the city-region have issued statements opposing the reforms, warning they could undermine Manchester’s long-standing reputation as one of the UK’s most welcoming cities.
Although international students are not directly included in the asylum system, some may be indirectly affected, especially those who seek protection after changing their faith while studying in the UK.
Alan Tower, from Friends International, a charity supporting international students in Manchester and Salford, said such cases are not uncommon.
“If a student has changed their allegiance in faith terms while they’re here, and their home society is not keen on that new religion, some will claim asylum towards the end of their studies.”
He told Quays News that many international students are aware of the rising tension around migration, even if they do not feel directly targeted:
“There’s a background sense that some sectors of society are not welcoming.
“Students can feel misunderstood or out of place, but the people we meet are incredibly grateful for any hospitality they receive.”
Some are also worried about hardship within asylum-seeking communities locally. Alan says reactions vary, from compassion to frustration, depending on students’ own experiences of navigating visas and restrictive immigration rules.
With international students now making up around a quarter of university income across the UK, institutions face increasing expectations to provide strong pastoral support throughout the academic year.
But Alan believes universities’ direct involvement with asylum issues remains limited.
“Universities need to be good at welcoming and helping international students acclimatise, but I’m not really aware of how much they do to connect them with asylum-seeking communities locally,” he said.
Friends International operates in 35 locations around the UK and works alongside churches and community groups to offer hospitality, mentoring and social support. The charity says maintaining compassion is vital as political debate becomes more divisive.
He explains that Christians “are instructed in scripture to welcome those from other countries.”
Reaction in Westminster have been mixed. Some Labour MPs labelled the proposals “dystopian” and “inhumane”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described them as “positive baby steps” but warned they would “fail” without wider legal changes.
The Conservative Party’s general stance on international students has focused on reducing net migration and cracking down on perceived ‘low quality’ courses used as a “backdoor route to immigration”. This has involved implementing stricter visa rules, which have reportedly led to a decline in international student numbers.
Mahmood continues to defend the reforms as a “moral mission,” arguing the UK risks losing public support for asylum altogether if the system is not “brought under control.”
But in Manchester, where councils, universities, churches and charities jointly support thousands of refugees and students every year, many say the reforms raise urgent questions about stability, safety and what sanctuary in the city should mean.