Mahmood's Denmark Visit Aims to Cement Tough Immigration Line
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has conducted a high-profile visit to the Sjælsmark deportation centre on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, as part of a two-day tour to underscore the UK government's commitment to a stricter immigration framework. The visit, which included meetings with Danish immigration officials, was designed to highlight the Labour Party's alignment with Denmark's left-leaning Social Democrat model, which emphasises deterrence and swift returns for those without legal status.
Scrutinising Denmark's Asylum System
During the tour, Mahmood observed the bleak conditions at Sjælsmark, a former military barracks that houses hundreds of individuals whose asylum or right-to-remain appeals have been rejected. The centre, located approximately 20 miles north of Copenhagen, operates under strict regulations, including curfews and mandatory cleaning duties, with residents facing fines, imprisonment, or deportation for non-compliance. Refugee campaigners describe such facilities as functioning akin to open prisons, with high fences and surveillance limiting movement despite nominal freedom to leave.
Mahmood's engagement with Danish officials, including Rasmus Stoklund, the Minister for Immigration and Integration, focused on policies such as the "ghetto law," which allows the state to demolish apartment blocks in areas with high concentrations of non-Western residents to prevent parallel societies. While the Home Office later distanced itself from this specific approach, the visit reinforced Mahmood's message that the UK must adopt a more robust system to address public concerns over immigration.
Addressing Public Resentment and Political Realities
In an interview with the Guardian, Mahmood articulated the need for "responsible" politics that acknowledge "legitimate grievances" among the UK public. She distinguished between racist sentiments and broader frustrations with a "broken system" that strains public services and allows rule-breakers to remain. "That resentment is real, and it does have a real-life impact," Mahmood stated, warning that failure to address these issues could fuel populist movements, such as a potential Nigel Farage-led government that might enact extreme deportation measures.
The home secretary defended Labour's recent policies, including plans to limit refugee status reviews to every 30 months, arguing that such measures are necessary to deter dangerous Channel crossings and people smuggling. However, she acknowledged that this approach could hinder integration efforts, as echoed by Anne la Cour Vågen of the Danish Red Cross, who noted that temporary stays create uncertainty and discourage language learning among refugees.
Internal and External Criticisms
Mahmood's stance has faced criticism from within her own party, particularly after Labour's defeat in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Veteran Labour peer Alf Dubs condemned the suspension of family reunion visas, warning it could lead to an increase in unaccompanied children attempting perilous journeys to join relatives in the UK. Mahmood declined to specify a timeline for reopening this route under new rules, stating only that officials are "working on it."
Denmark's immigration system, which granted asylum to just 860 people in 2024 while deporting 2,600 in 2025, has been praised by some for its restrictiveness but criticised by left-wing groups for mainstreaming hard-right policies. The Social Democrats' shift under Mette Frederiksen, who recently called an early general election amid rising popularity, reflects a broader European trend of tightening immigration controls to counter populist threats.
As Mahmood returns to the UK, her visit underscores a pivotal moment in Labour's immigration strategy, balancing public demand for tougher measures with humanitarian concerns and internal party dissent.
