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Immigration Policy
Is this devolved to Wales?
Not Devolved
The powers over this are reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Section B2; Nationality and Immigration).
Immigration has long been a keenly debated subject, both at a UK and Welsh level.
Net migration – the increase in the population from immigration once those leaving the UK are counted – has consistently increased at the UK level since the early 2000s1.
There have been at least two significant spikes in net migration over the last two decades. The first came in the years following EU enlargement into eastern Europe in 2004, while the second immediately followed the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2020-2022 (called the “Boriswave”).
People entering the UK illegally have been of particular concern. In the last few years, criminal gangs have launched dangerous crossings of the English Channel on small boats, with people arriving on the south-east coast of England. Estimates put the number of people who’ve entered the UK this way since 2018 at around 200,0002.
The issue of illegal immigration has often been (deliberately) tied to asylum seekers and refugees, who the UK Government are required to assist under international law. The UK Government ultimately decides where asylum seekers and refugees are temporarily housed, including Wales.
This has led to several flashpoints and protests over the UK Home Office’s use of hotels and former military bases to house asylum seekers  (who are not legally allowed to work) while they wait for their applications to be processed.
Who has raised this at the Senedd?
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Dan Thomas MS
Backbencher
Joshua Kim MS
Backbencher
Joe Martin MS
Backbencher
Andrew Griffin MS
Chair: Public Accounts
Laura Anne Jones MS
Shadow Rural Affairs Minister
Carmelo Colasanto MS
Chair: Local Government & Housing
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Dan Thomas MS
Backbencher
Joshua Kim MS
Backbencher
Joe Martin MS
Backbencher
Andrew Griffin MS
Chair: Public Accounts
Laura Anne Jones MS
Shadow Rural Affairs Minister
Carmelo Colasanto MS
Chair: Local Government & Housing
What are the party positions on this?
- Supports Wales-only approach to immigration
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Plaid Cymru’s stance is that most decisions on immigration should be made in Wales. They have expressed “solidarity” with asylum seekers and refugees, and have often called for more skilled migration to deal with labour shortages in some parts of Wales.
- Supportive
- Opposes most immigration
- Neutral/No Opinion
Reform generally opposes most forms of immigration into the UK and are actively hostile towards refugee and asylum policies. They have been openly critical of Welsh Government policies to integrate refugees in Wales, such as the Nation of Sanctuary programme.
- Supportive
- Opposed
- Neutral
Labour wants to maintain things as they are whilst cutting net migration figures overall, but at the UK level have backed measures to cut down on illegal immigration in particular. At a Welsh level, Labour has expressed “solidarity” with refugees, particularly those from Ukraine.
- Supportive
- Opposes most immigration
- Neutral/No Opinion
The Conservatives are broadly anti-immigration, though tend to be more opposed to illegal and unskilled immigration, than migration of skilled high-earners.
- Supports a more open immigration policy
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
The Greens are opposed to “hostile environment” policies introduced by current and previous UK governments. They have usually supported refugee and asylum policies and have supported safe routes being established.
- Generally supports immigration
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
The Lib Dems have supported safe asylum routes and other measures such as allowing asylum seekers to work and banning the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
Who is responsible?
UK Home Office
UK Border Force
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What's the UK Government's position on this?
The UK Government announced new immigration policies in 20253.
The core aims are to cut net migration, increase the number of deportations, and increase the time it takes for migrants to be eligible for UK residency/”indefinite leave to remain” (up to 15 years for low-paid workers).
The UK has agreed a “one-in, one-out” pilot deal with France whereby people crossing the English Channel illegally can be exchanged for someone who, after background checks, hasn’t tried to cross.
There is a commitment to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
There are signs that these new approaches have worked. In 2025, net-migration to the UK fell to its lowest level (171,000) since 20124.
What have the Senedd's Committees said?
Nothing has been discussed yet.
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Relevant Votes
Nothing to see yet.
Further Reading
- University of Oxford, Migration Observatory. “Net migration to the UK“
- Rob England & Jess Carr, BBC News. “More than 200,000 migrants have crossed Channel in small boats since 2018“
- House of Commons Library, Research Briefing (13th March 2026). “Immigration reforms“
- BBC News (21st May 2026). “UK net migration drops to 171,000 in 2025 – lowest since 2012 excluding pandemic“
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