Wales strengthens refugee support with £55M Nation of Sanctuary policy

Wales being a Nation of Sanctuary means supporting those who, fleeing persecution and war, arrive here to rebuild their lives.

We assist them to integrate into Welsh life and contribute positively to our nation. We believe this compassionate response gives people seeking sanctuary the best start possible and also helps local services and communities too.

The Welsh Government does not decide on how many people seeking sanctuary in the UK are placed in Wales - nor does it decide on who is placed in Wales. This has always been a decision for the UK Government alone. Wales will continue to welcome its proportionate share of people seeking sanctuary in the UK - up to 5% of all arrivals.

Overall costs of the Nation of Sanctuary policy were around £54,880,000 representing less than 0.05% of the Welsh Government's budget over the six years, from 2019 to 2025, since the Nation of Sanctuary Plan was adopted.

The Welsh Government is proud of our contribution in supporting Ukrainian refugees in response to Putin's illegal and brutal full-scale invasion of their country. For the period covering March 2019 to March 2025, £45,475,000 under the Nation of Sanctuary policy was spent supporting Ukrainian arrivals to Wales. Within our spend, 82% of costs were to support Ukrainians in 2022-2024, which had cross-party backing in the Senedd.

In 2016, the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee conducted an inquiry into refugees and asylum seekers and recommended that the Welsh Government take steps to make Wales a Nation of Sanctuary. As a direct result of that inquiry, we published the Nation of Sanctuary Plan in 2019, which was subsequently updated as part of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (2024).

The goals and actions within the Nation of Sanctuary chapter are governed and held accountable under the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan governance structure, as well as the Nation of Sanctuary Strategic Oversight Board which I co-chair with the Welsh Local Government Association's Spokesperson on social justice.

I encourage members to read the goals and actions within the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan that we are taking in this Senedd term to move us towards a Nation of Sanctuary. These set out how we, together with our partners, aim to deliver support in a number of areas which support migrant integration and community cohesion. For example, one action is the continuation of the Wales Asylum Seeking and Refugee Doctors (WARD) Group which ensures doctors and consultants who arrive in Wales can continue to practice within the NHS.

I am proud of our vision of Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary, and proud of the way we work in partnership with local authorities, health boards, third sector partners and communities to make this vision a reality across Wales. I am also proud of our many communities, towns, cities, schools and universities who wish to become places of sanctuary and welcome for those seeking sanctuary in Wales. At a time of global instability and humanitarian crises, it is more important than ever that we uphold our values of compassion, welcome and community.