What the New White Paper Gets Wrong

This week, the UK government published a new White Paper on immigration. It promises a “radical crackdown” on migration — with new rules to make it harder for people to come to the UK on work, student, or family visas, and more difficult to settle long term. The Prime Minister warned that without these restrictive policies, Britain could become an “island of strangers.”

At Asylum Welcome, we strongly reject that idea.

We work every day with people in Oxfordshire who have fled war, persecution, and other dangers. They are not strangers — they are our neighbours. We see first-hand the importance of treating people fairly and giving them a chance to rebuild their lives in safety.

Based on that experience, we believe a fair and humane approach starts with recognising that safety is a human right. It means strengthening rights and protections for all workers — no matter where they’re from — and trusting the public to understand that there is nothing wrong with wanting to stay, contribute, and belong.

What’s being said — and why it’s a problem

The Prime Minister described recent levels of migration as causing “incalculable damage” to the UK. We strongly disagree.

Furthermore, this kind of language fuels fear and division — and it has consequences. Last summer, some of the people we support were threatened in their accommodation. When leaders frame migration as a threat, it creates a dangerous climate for everyone.

We’re especially concerned by the suggestion that people who arrive on work or student visas and later claim asylum are somehow abusing the system. In reality, many do this because there are no safe, legal routes to seek protection from abroad. Under UK law, people must already be on British soil to make an asylum claim. If they didn’t come this way, they might be forced to risk their lives on dangerous journeys. This is not abuse — it’s the only option left.

Rhetoric vs Reality

The government points to a dramatic rise in net migration since 2019 to justify these new measures. But this use of numbers is deceptive. Net migration figures in 2019 did not include EU nationals who were able to move freely before Brexit. Once visa requirements were introduced, the numbers naturally increased.

The total also includes around 270,000 people from Ukraine and 177,000 from Hong Kong, both admitted under government-run humanitarian schemes. These were lawful, compassionate responses supported by the public. To count them as evidence of a migration crisis is deeply misleading.

Migrants aren’t to blame

We’ve also seen the government link immigration to pressure on the NHS, schools, and housing. But migrants play a huge role in keeping these services going — working in hospitals, care homes, construction, and more. The real issue here isn’t migration. It’s underinvestment and long-standing problems that require proper solutions.

What needs to happen

We’re calling on the government to stop using divisive language and instead take steps that make a genuine difference:

  • Let people seeking asylum work while they wait for a decision — so they can support themselves and contribute.
  • Create more safe and legal routes so people don’t have to risk dangerous journeys or resort to coming by other means.
  • Speak honestly about migration — and remember that it’s about people, not just numbers.

Migration is part of our national story. People come here for safety, for family, for opportunity — just as they always have. There is nothing wrong with wanting to stay, contribute, and belong.