The British government is set to introduce new rules that would require people granted asylum to repay up to £10,000, roughly $13,000, for accommodation and living support before they can apply for settlement.
The proposed rules come as immigration has become a top concern for British voters, with the issue consistently ranking high in polling.
Under the new rules, repayments would be means-tested and limited to adults above a certain income threshold, with safeguards in place to prevent people from being pushed into poverty.
The government says the rules would not be applied retrospectively and children would be exempt from the payments.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that receiving asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility, and that those who can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people should do so.
The Home Office has also announced plans to remove 45,000 more people with no legal right to remain and foreign criminals within the next decade, in addition to the tens of thousands already being removed annually.
The centre-left Labour Party has increased efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration, with some members calling for stricter policies to counter the rising popularity of the Reform UK party.
Refugee advocates and migration researchers have criticized the proposal, arguing it could punish people who fled persecution and questioning whether many refugees would earn enough to repay the proposed sum.
Critics have also warned that tying repayment to settlement could create uncertainty for people trying to rebuild their lives in the UK.
The Labour Party is facing internal divisions over its immigration policy, with the party's leader, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announcing his resignation last week, adding to overall uncertainty.
