Britain’s immigration reset has now widened far beyond the asylum system. What began as an attempt to deter irregular arrivals has morphed into a deeper reconfiguration of the country’s entire approach to belonging. The latest proposal ~ to make even legal migrants wait up to 20 years before they can settle permanently – cements this shift. It is no longer only refugees who must live with provisional status; millions of workers, families, and contributors already inside the UK are now being folded into a model built on conditionality and extended probation.

The proposal to double the standard qualifying period for settlement from five to 10 years ~ and stretch it to 15 or even 20 for those on benefits ~ reflects a political calculus shaped by extraordinary numbers. Net migration added 2.6 million people to the population between 2021 and 2024, and more than 1.6 million legal migrants are forecast to seek settlement between 2026 and 2030. Ministers........

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