THE government is set to unveil “vile” new immigration rules that will “punish people who’ve already lost everything,” campaigners have warned.

Under the changes, expected to be announced today by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, refugee status will become “temporary,” and people will be deported as soon as their home countries are deemed “safe.”

Refugees will need to reapply to remain in Britain every two-and-a-half years, and wait 20 years before they can apply to settle permanently.

The government is also set to revoke its legal duty to provide housing and weekly allowances to asylum-seekers.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Mahmood called the changes a “moral mission,” claiming that illegal migration is “dividing communities.”

Slamming the plans, the SNP accused Labour of “pandering to Nigel Farage.”

Westminster deputy leader Pete Wishart warned that dancing to the Reform leader’s tune “won’t cut bills,” and urged the government to tackle rising costs and invest in public services.

Sile Reynolds, from Freedom from Torture, called the changes a “cynical attempt to scapegoat vulnerable people to win political points.”

“These proposals will punish people who’ve already lost everything, cutting them off from safety and hope,” she said.

Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman described the plans as “vile and contemptible,” saying: “Whether a country is deemed safe or not does not dictate whether the individual who is seeking sanctuary will be safe there.

“Victims of trafficking, for example, may never be safe to return home, especially if the perpetrators of violence towards them are known to them, such as family members or local gangs.”

Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon warned that it will only add to the backlog faced by the Home Office.

“If it was in place today, officials would need to review the status of more than 60,000 people over the next year, which would be a very costly bureaucratic challenge,” he said.

People will be left with “intense anxiety and uncertainty,” prevented from putting down roots, and integrating into British life, he added.

The changes are said to be modelled on Denmark’s hard-line model, under which asylum-seekers can only get temporary residence permits for one to two years at a time.

Discriminatory policies introduced by the Scandinavian country allow it to demolish and sell social housing in areas where more than 50 per cent of residents are from a “non-Western” background.

A “jewellery law” also allows authorities to confiscate asylum-seekers’ assets, including jewellery, to help fund the costs of their stay.

A new report, however, warns that plans to erode asylum rights would counter Labour’s own commitment to economic growth.

Released by the Public and Commercial Services union and Together With Refugees, the study calculated that each refugee would contribute over £260,000 to the British economy if fair and humane changes were made to the current system.

The figure reflects a 12.5-year period and factors in both the expenses associated with implementing the reforms and the full cost of providing support.

The report suggested four specific changes: claims processed within six months, legal assistance at all stages of the application process, as well as English language support and employment support from the day of arrival.

Dr Saad Maida, a refugee from Syria, who works as a senior registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology, said: “We haven’t come here to take advantage. We have come because of war or persecution.

“Knowing that my hard work helps others, both through paying taxes and my work as a doctor, is deeply important to me. Being part of the NHS who provide care for everyone, makes me genuinely feel proud.”

Minnie Rahman, spokesperson for Together With Refugees, said: “This landmark study blows apart tired claims that refugees are a ‘burden.’

“The evidence is clear: when given the chance to rebuild their lives, refugees give back — paying taxes, boosting growth and strengthening our communities.”