Home Secretary Suella Braverman has unveiled a radical overhaul of the UK’s asylum system, warning that the country’s current rules could lead to 100 million people becoming eligible for
asylum in the UK. Speaking in the House of Commons, Braverman stated that the country’s asylum system is “overwhelmed”, with the number of illegal migrants breaching UK borders increasing, and that tougher legislation was needed to “stop the boats”. The new legislation, which will bar illegal arrivals from applying on refugee, modern slavery, or human rights grounds, will only permit children and gravely ill individuals to remain in the UK whilst their cases are being considered. Parliament will also be given the power to set an annual cap on the number of refugees accepted into the country, while local authorities will be consulted on how many refugees they can accommodate. Critics have claimed that the proposals are “unworkable” due to the UK’s lack of a safe place to send those who have crossed the Channel.
The Home Office has released figures showing that the number of illegal immigration attempts detected in the UK has risen, with Channel boat arrivals making up the majority of attempts. Last year, 45,000 people made the perilous crossing. Additionally, figures show that the number of asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their claim in the UK has topped 160,000, with 74,751 applications made in the past year alone - the highest number since 2002. Albanians made up the largest number of asylum seekers, with 14,223 applications from the Balkan state, with 9,573 of those coming from people arriving in boats after crossing the Channel.
Braverman dismissed “naive” jeers from Labour MPs in the Commons and stated that the need for reform was “obvious and urgent”. She explained that the new legislation would be effective immediately to avoid creating a dash to reach the UK, even though it could be months before the legislation is on the statute book. Braverman also acknowledged that the initiative “pushes the boundaries” of international law, and the UK government could face legal and parliamentary challenges, but insisted she was “confident this Bill is compatible with international obligations”.
The proposals have been met with criticism, with some describing them as “unworkable”. Additionally, the UK’s immigration lawyers’ association has raised concerns that the new legislation may lead to the denial of justice for vulnerable asylum seekers, and that the government has failed to take the views of refugee charities, MPs, or lawyers into account. The proposals have also sparked protests, with the charity Stand Up to Racism organising a demonstration against the new measures in central London.
The Prime Minister is due to visit the South East and promote the new legislation, before holding a press conference in Downing Street. With the UK having faced an ongoing crisis of illegal migration, the new legislation marks a significant shift in the country’s asylum system. However, with the number of asylum seekers in the country having reached a 20-year high, there are concerns that the new legislation may do little to ease the current crisis. Photo by DFID - UK Department for International Development, Wikimedia commons.