The laws shaping immigration right now.
The laws and rule changes shaping immigration and asylum right now, what each one actually did, not what it was sold as.
8 figures, each with its official source.
New statutory Border Security Commander and people-smuggling offences (supplying small-boat parts up to 14 years; endangering life at sea up to 6). Repeals the Rwanda Act in full and most of the Illegal Migration Act 2023. Commences on a rolling basis.
Deemed Rwanda 'safe' to allow removals. The scheme removed NO ONE: before it was scrapped in July 2024 (cost £715m on the Home Office's own itemisation), four people went to Rwanda voluntarily under a separate voluntary-returns programme, not under this Act.
Its 'duty to remove' irregular arrivals and the ban on processing their claims were never commenced; most of the Act was repealed by the 2025 Act.
Introduced two-tier asylum treatment by mode of arrival (since reversed); nationality, offence and modern-slavery provisions largely remain.
Skill level returned to RQF6 (graduate); general salary threshold £38,700 → £41,700. ~180 lower-skilled occupations lost eligibility except via shortage lists.
In-country switching allowed until 22 Jul 2028.
Proposed: double the ILR qualifying period 5 → 10 years (under consultation) A PROPOSAL, not yet law: as of mid-2026 the default qualifying period is still 5 years and the government's response is not yet published. 'Contribution/integration' could reduce the period.
B2 English for main work-route applicants (Jan 2026) Up from B1 for Skilled Worker/Scale-up/HPI; new requirements for adult dependants too.