"Pushbacks" are illegal under international law. Any deaths caused by Border Force while carrying them out would violate international law, and, as much as this government repeatedly ignores this fact, international law trumps domestic. 1/ amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/o…
The very fact Patel is looking to try and get immunity from prosecution demonstrates a clear knowledge that the #bordersbill will inevitably lead to deaths at sea, and have no mistake that will include children. It is an abhorrent piece of legislation which will kill people. 2/
Not only those attempting to enter the UK though. What is frequently overlooked is that it will give cover, perceived if not practical, for other states to conduct operations which kill refugees. 3/
We are already seeing authorities in EU border nations beating and abusing asylum seekers who attempt to cross, as well as conducting their own pushback operations. The entire international refugee regime is being placed at risk by the #antirefugeebill. 4/
The argument which Patel et al will put forward though is "it's their fault for trying to cross". Absolutely guaranteed that the second a child drowns because of pushbacks their parents will be blamed". 5/
There's a huge amount wrong here, not least ways of which it automatically assumes that the children aren't unaccompanied, which due to the UK scrapping a lot of family reunification for separated children there's a reasonable chance they will be. 6/
People make the crossing for a multitude of reasons, and "benefits" really aren't one of them as not only can they get more in France, but also they often don't even know what they can get in the UK. 7/
People cross because they have ties here language, friends, family, and again because the government has limited family reunification they have few other options on that one. They also may not feel safe in France, Germany, Spain, Italy etc. 8/
There are good reasons for that, reasons which don't tend to apply to you or I if we visit those countries. Authorities attacking asylum seekers, being forced to sleep rough, far right attacks, etc. 9/
UK takes a tiny fraction of asylum seekers other countries do, yet is looking to pass legislation it knows will kill them. Imagine being so desperate you will cross one of the busiest shipping routes to reach a place you feel is safe, and that place passing laws to kill you. 10/
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