Immigration is receiving a lot consideration within the run-up to the Welsh election. This would possibly appear extraordinary in the beginning for the reason that Welsh parliament (the Senedd) has no energy over immigration. It will possibly’t make rules on who enters the rustic, how asylum claims are treated or who will get citizenship. All of this is managed by way of the United Kingdom govt in Westminster.
However since 2019, Wales has thought to be itself a “nation of sanctuary”. This implies the Welsh govt can fortify refugees and asylum seekers in the course of the services and products it controls, reminiscent of well being, training and housing.
A YouGov ballot from April 2026 presentations that immigration is a concern for 25% of Welsh citizens, tied with the financial system. Well being (46%) and the price of residing (51%) are ranked upper. Amongst meant Reform UK citizens, immigration is ranked because the perfect precedence (55%).
In December 2025, there have been 3,353 asylum seekers in Wales, maximum of whom had been in Cardiff. Of the £64 million spent at the country of sanctuary since 2019, 91% has been to fortify refugees from Ukraine.
Knowledge from the Welsh Election Learn about presentations that 53.8% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the remark “people from different backgrounds get on together” of their native house, in comparison with 14.4% who disagree or strongly disagree. Just a small minority really feel that there are tensions of their spaces.
But, Wales has now not been exempt from the broader tensions round immigration in the United Kingdom. There were a number of protests towards housing asylum seekers in Penally in 2020, Llanelli in 2023 and Mould in 2025.
It’s, due to this fact, unsurprising that some political events have highlighted this as an electoral factor. Reform UK and the Welsh Conservatives have pledged of their manifestos to scrap the country of sanctuary insurance policies.
Wales has now not been exempt from the broader tensions round immigration in the United Kingdom.
Gareth Llewelyn Evans/Shutterstock
The country of sanctuary coverage is a imaginative and prescient that connects the Welsh govt with international problems. Lecturers have described it for example of “moral” or “progressive” nationalism.
It was once presented in large part according to the United Kingdom govt’s “hostile environment” method on immigration. The opposed surroundings was once a chain of insurance policies installed position by way of Theresa Would possibly all over her time as house secretary to make lifestyles more difficult for individuals who overstayed their visa to proceed operating and gaining access to public services and products, such because the NHS. As an example, it required employers, landlords and repair staff to test immigration standing.
Along striking transparent water between Cardiff and Whitehall, the country of sanctuary additionally took inspiration from Holyrood’s New Scots technique in making a extra welcoming surroundings for immigrants in Scotland.
The United Kingdom govt is liable for who’s granted asylum and the housing of asylum seekers. The Welsh govt can – and does – make coverage in devolved fields reminiscent of well being and training, for all citizens in Wales, together with other people in search of sanctuary.
The country of sanctuary constructed on present Welsh insurance policies. As an example, giving rejected asylum seekers get entry to to specialized hospital therapy, and developing routes for refugees to paintings as docs and dentists in the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, Wales isn’t exempt from UK-wide immigration insurance policies. Welsh employers and landlords should proceed to make sure their workers’ and tenants’ immigration standing, and Cardiff airport can be utilized for deportation flights. Nor does it imply that folks in search of sanctuary are diverted to Wales from in different places in the United Kingdom. On this sense, Wales is much less of a sanctuary than many north American towns, which is able to move ordinances prohibiting deportations or inquiries about immigration standing.
Country with out sanctuary
What may just occur must the following Welsh govt make a decision to revoke its country of sanctuary imaginative and prescient?
Election polls have continuously proven Plaid Cymru and Reform UK within the lead. Plaid Cymru have dedicated to protective the country of sanctuary, and known as for the devolution of a few immigration powers to Wales. Reform UK has dedicated to scrapping it, and converting making plans rules to restrict lodges getting used to accommodate asylum seekers. On the other hand, given Wales’ new electoral device, any birthday party would almost definitely want fortify from every other to control.
Will have to a long term Welsh govt make a decision to desert the country of sanctuary, this on my own is not likely to result in important adjustments in follow. The activism and networks that fortify it could proceed, as would the housing of asylum seekers in Wales. Those are issues for the United Kingdom govt. Different insurance policies round well being and training that existed ahead of the Country of Sanctuary was once declared would additionally proceed.
Different particular problems when it comes to refugee standing are matter to world agreements, such because the 1951 refugee conference. So, whilst immigration is a concern for some citizens, no election result’s more likely to see fast radical coverage adjustments in Wales.
On the other hand, it would have an intensive affect at the lives of migrants and others already suffering from harsh immigration insurance policies and rhetoric. It must be remembered that dislike crimes larger all over the 2016 Brexit referendum marketing campaign and its aftermath, resulting in many of us feeling that they not belonged in the United Kingdom.
The present heated political discourse dehumanises migrants, whose stories of fleeing warfare and persecution are in large part lacking from discussions. Election protection and campaigns would take pleasure in bringing calm, nuance and sensitivity into its method on immigration.
