The controversial Illegal Migration Bill headed for its second reading in Parliament on Wednesday. The government says it will “stop the boats” making the perilous journey across the Channel.
It is likely that the bill will pass through parliament with a majority vote.
The Home Office says that 45,000 people entered the UK by small boat in 2022. If migrants request asylum when they get to the UK, they are not illegal.
Suella Braverman said “Two months ago, the Prime Minister made a promise to the British people. He said anyone entering this country illegally, will be detained and swiftly removed. No half measures. The Illegal Migration Bill will fulfil that promise.”
The Home Secretary continued by saying there is “more than a 50% chance” that parts of the bill may not be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, said “If he [Rishi Sunak] was serious about stopping the boats, he’d actually steal our plan on stopping the boats, smash the gangs, sort out the returns and clear up this utter mess.”
Many have branded the bill illegal. The Human Rights Act 1998 says that the bill must be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The United Nations are “profoundly concerned” by the asylum bill and describe those arriving “irregularly” would be subject to detention rather than protection. The UN Refugee Agency says the bill could be a “clear breach of the Refugee Convention and would undermine a longstanding, humanitarian tradition of which the British people are rightly proud.
Lubna Shuja, president of the Law Society, said “we are concerned that there has been no public consultation to ensure the bill is workable, provides due process for those claiming asylum or is compliant with international law.”
There is a backlog of 160,000 migrants that are awaiting a decision on their claims. Comparatively, France received over 120,000 asylum applications in 2021 and Germany received over 240,000 in 2022.