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Shabana Mahmood plans to replace judges with the public on asylum cases
Published 08:03 29 Jun 2026 BST
Updated 08:03 29 Jun 2026 BST
Homenews
A style similar to magistrates
Shabana Mahmood is planning on replacing judges with the public to decide cases on asylum appeals.
Members of the public will be trained to decide asylum appeals to speed up the process after it was claimed that appeals were being used to "game the system".
The home secretary wants to replace immigration judges through reforms as she pledged the removal of 45,000 failed claimants and foreign offenders.
The Independent Immigration Appeals Authority will be made up of "professionally trained and independently appointed" adjudicators from a range of backgrounds, similar to magistrates.
The body will prioritise cases in the public interest and high-harm offenders starting from late 2027.
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.”
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