Shabana Mahmood plans to replace judges with the public on asylum cases

In a huge overhaul, Shabana Mahmood will put forward plans to use members of the public to decide asylum appeals.

The Home Secretary wants the general public to be trained, magistrate-style, to oversee appeals against rejected claims. 

The Independent Immigration Appeals Authority will be made up of ‘professionally trained and independently appointed’ adjudicators from a range of backgrounds.

Detailed in the Immigration and Asylum Bill, Mahmood pledged to remove 45,000 failed claimants and foreign offenders.

This new body would prioritise cases in the public interest and high-harm offenders, potentially starting from late 2027.

The new IIAA will be tasked to look at cases ‘clearly without merit’, in a bid to speed up the process, after accusations that legal battles are being used as delay tactics.

The Home Secretary said: ‘Today, our appeals tribunal is overwhelmed. As a result, people are gaming the system, lodging vexatious appeals to frustrate their removal.

‘Our new appeals body will ensure claims are heard swiftly and fairly. Those with a legitimate claim will get their hearing. Those who have no right to remain in this country, and are abusing the system, will be swiftly removed.’

Mahmood is also hoping to expand two immigration removal centres, upping capacity from 130 to 600 beds in Haslar in Gosport.

Similarly, in Campsfield, Oxfordshire, which was opened in December, they are looking to expand from 160 to 400.

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