Labour Splits Erupt Over Plans For Danish-Style Immigration Crackdown

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/69107be01700003a259c501b.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood." data-caption="Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood." data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="via Associated Press" />Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party/">Labour </a>splits have erupted over <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/shabana-mahmood/">Shabana Mahmood’s</a> plans for a Danish-style immigration crackdown.</p><p>The home secretary has been impressed by the Scandinavian country’s success in increasing the number of illegal migrants being deported.</p><p>Denmark has also taken steps to reduce the so-called “pull factors” which made the country attractive to immigrants.</p><p>These include tighter rules on family reunions and limiting the amount of time refugees can stay.</p><p>Asylum seekers are also required to be in full-time employment, and the length of time it takes to acquire residency rights has been extended.</p><p>Their approach has reduced the number of asylum applications to the lowest number in 40 years and the removal of 95% of rejected asylum seekers.</p><p>Among the measures being considered by Mahmood include returning asylum seekers fleeing persecution once conditions in their countries improve.</p><p>Home Office officials visited Denmark last month to see how their immigration and asylum system works in practice.</p><p>It comes amid criticism of Labour’s attempts to stop asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats. More than 1,200 have made the perilous journey in the past two days alone. </p><p>Mahmood is expected to announce the government’s new,