Migrants who have been convicted of sexual offences will have their refugee protections stripped away as part of Labour's asylum system overhaul.
Under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, countries can refuse asylum to those who have committed crimes against peace, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.
Individuals who have committed a “particularly serious crime” that present a danger to the community can also be refused immediately.
Currently in the UK, this is categorised as a criminal being handed a prison sentence of one year or more.
The Home Office said that it hopes the changes will send a clear message that sex offences are treated with the 'seriousness they deserve'
GETTYHowever, ministers are seeking to broaden this definition under a change in the law aimed at tightening border security.
New regulations would mean anyone convicted of a crime which places them on the sex offenders register, regardless of the length of their sentence, will be denied refugee status.
The new measure will be introduced in an amendment to the Government’s Border Security, Asylum & Immigration Bill currently going through Parliament.
The Home Office said that it hopes the changes will send a clear message that sex offences are treated with the “seriousness they deserve”.
MIGRANT CRISIS LATEST:
Under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, countries can refuse asylum to those who have committed crimes against peace, war crimes, or crimes against humanity
PA
The amendment will also set a 24-week target for first-tier immigration tribunals to decide on appeals of those living in asylum seeker supported accommodation, or who are foreign national offenders, in a bid to cut the asylum backlog.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK.
“We are strengthening the law to ensure these appalling crimes are taken seriously.
“Nor should asylum seekers be stuck in hotels at the taxpayers’ expense during lengthy legal battles.
“That is why we are changing the law to help clear the backlog, end the use of asylum hotels and save billions of pounds for the taxpayer.”
The action comes as the Government has vowed to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK'
PASafeguarding Minister Jess Phillips also said: “That’s exactly why we are taking action to ensure there are robust safeguards across the system, including by clamping down on foreign criminals who commit heinous crimes like sex offences.”
The Home Office has said that AI will be used to support caseworkers processing asylum claims, which is intended to save workers up to an hour per case.
The bill plans to introduce a range of measures to crack down on people smuggling across the English Channel, and overhaul the asylum system.
This includes axing the Conservatives’ Rwanda plan, and introducing new criminal offences and handing counter terror-style powers to police and enforcement agencies to tackle the crossings.
Those who pose as immigration lawyers will be also be stamped out as part of the reforms, with those not properly registered being fined up to £15,000.
