The UK government has tightened rules to prevent refugees arriving on small boats from claiming citizenship, as it continues to crack down on immigration.

Anyone applying for citizenship from now on “will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry took place,” according to updated guidance for caseworkers when assessing whether an applicant is of good character, published on the UK Visas & Immigration website Monday.

The Home Office described the changes as a “clarification”. Previously, the guidance was that it would normally be appropriate to refuse naturalization where a refugee entered illegally in the past 10 years.

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But Labour Member of Parliament Stella Creasy said the change “meant refugees would forever remain second-class citizens”.

It comes in response to rising numbers of migrants arriving in the UK in dangerous small boats across the English Channel, around two-thirds of whom are generally granted asylum.

Increasing numbers are proving a headache for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is facing a growing challenge from the anti-migrant Reform UK party. Protests last summer escalated into right-wing violence, including arson attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers.

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A Home Office spokesperson said: “There are already rules that can prevent those arriving illegally from gaining citizenship.

“This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused.”