It's come to my attention again that few people have any idea what the government's "stop the boats" illegal migration bill does, so:
It ends the right to seek asylum in the UK.
No decsions. No applications will be processed. From Afghans to Albanians. Limbo forever for all.
There are infinitessimally small caveats but this is essentially the truth & the whole story.
In plain & simple terms: No one coming to us for help (or any reason) will have their claim for protection heard anymore, ever.
They'll all be detained, all be left in barges & hotels.
Actually, I shouldnt have used Albania because, exceptionally, while they'll be denied the right to apply for asylum like everyone else, Albanians specifically won't all be in limbo forever, rather illegally deported- meaning any who do need protection will be sent back to danger
But everyone else, no matter where they are coming from - Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Iran - will never have their claims heard and will be left in limbo, with the power to lock them in detention without access to courts, forever.
The bill ends the right to asylum.
That is why UNHCR - the guardian of the Refugee Convention - calls it a #RefugeeBanBill & says it is clearly incompatible with international law.
For good measure, it's also incompatible with Conventions on:
- Trafficking
- Statelessness
- Against Torture
- Rights of the Child
& that is why, in my Newsnight interview, I said the government has stopped doing it's job, which is to process asylum claims.
1% of claims received last year have received a decision.
But anyone who arrived since 7 March 2023 will NEVER receive one.
They've hidden this agenda behind the hateful demonisation of Albanian asylum seekers in particular.
But the Bill impacts everybody. Men, women & children fleeing Sudan, Syria, anywhere - they all go to limbo and NO claims are EVER heard.
youtube.com/shorts/t9eBXDE…
But what, you all ask, about SAFE ROUTES?
A bill that denies the right to seek asylum if you’ve entered irregularly SURELY creates alternative means for refugees to enter safely? Surely?
The government is uncomfortable giving a straight answer on this one, but I will.
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