‘I feel free now’: Shabana Mahmood’s immigration shake-up provokes mixed emotions
Summary
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s revised settlement plans have eased concerns for some care workers but left other migrants, including people whose relationships with British citizens have ended, unsure how long they must wait for permanent status. Aneisha Williams says using housing benefits during a period of hardship could now delay her settlement, while care worker Rasika Samarasinghe welcomed changes that may let him and his family remain in the UK.Key Facts
- Mahmood’s latest plan requires applicants to spend five continuous years without relying on benefits before they can qualify for settlement.
- Williams, who came to the UK from Jamaica in 2016, says she was months from qualifying after 10 years but may now have to wait another decade.
- Williams received housing benefit after her marriage broke down and she and her daughter became homeless during the Covid crisis.
- The article says it remains unclear how protections for family members of British citizens apply to people whose marriages have ended or who claimed benefits.
- The government revised its plans for some care workers who entered the route before May 2025 and earn at least £25,000 a year, allowing them to qualify after five years instead of the originally proposed 15.
- Other care workers may need to complete another five-year visa period before settlement.
- Samarasinghe, a care worker from Sri Lanka, said the Home Office reversed its refusal to let his wife and three children remain in the UK as his dependants.
- The article says the Home Office has also reversed similar decisions affecting other care workers’ families.
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