Migrants crossing in small boats to be ‘barred from applying for asylum’

Channel migrants will be banned today from seeking asylum, modern slavery or human rights violations to halt their deportation, it said.

The new “Illegal Immigration Border Law” will be applied “retrospectively” to all Channel crossings, although the law is likely to go months without passage, the Sun reports.

Parts of human rights law are understood to be “not applied” in the UK and only those under the age of 18 or those who are seriously ill are exempt and allowed to hear their case.

Almost all who enter illegally can only appeal after their deportation.

Ministers discussed the first reports of the new immigration law yesterday. They hope the new laws will help discourage people from coming to the UK on small boats.

A rarely used measure under the Human Rights Act – known as a Section 19.1.B declaration – is to be used to get legislation through Parliament, it has been reported.

Ministers are believed to have received advice that the proposals are lawful, although they go beyond the limits of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The new bill also gives Parliament the power to set a cap on the number of refugees admitted into the country – with local authorities being consulted on how many people they can take, the Times reports.

The Prime Minister wrote in The Sun: “The UK has a proud history of welcoming those most in need – thousands have opened their homes to Ukrainian refugees in the last year and helped those fleeing persecution in Hong Kong.

“But those arriving in small boats are not directly fleeing a war-torn country or face immediate mortal danger.

“Instead, they traveled through safe European countries before crossing the English Channel.

“The fact that they can do this is unfair to those who come here legally and enough is enough.

In January, I made it one of my five promises to the country to stop the boats — and today we’re introducing new legislation to do that.

“Previous bills have begun to address this issue, but what we’re announcing today advances that work.

“This means that those who come here in small boats cannot apply for asylum here.

“This new law will send a clear signal that if you enter this country illegally you will be deported quickly.

“That is right and fair, especially for those who are being exploited by criminal gangs and are risking their lives to get here.

“Unlike Labor who voted against action on this issue, this government has a plan to break the people smuggling business model.

“A plan to do what is fair to those at home and those with a legitimate claim to asylum – a plan to take back control of our borders once and for all.

“What is Labor’s plan? Not only do they have no plan to stop the boats, they don’t want to.”

It comes as sources close to Home Secretary Suella Braverman said people had “enough” and vowed ministers would tackle the canal crisis “without ifs or buts”.

While awaiting deportation, migrants are of course accommodated in student housing, on cruise ships or in holiday parks – instead of hotels.

It has been reported that the Home Office plans to buy two RAF bases in Lincolnshire and Essex to house migrants awaiting deportation.

A “duty to deport” any migrant who arrives illegally will be imposed on the interior minister.

The full package of immigration measures is due to be presented by Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman later today.

The PM has vowed to “stop the boats” as one of his top five promises to voters after arrivals on the canal rose to nearly 46,000 last year.

Immigration laws enacted under Boris Johnson set out how the Home Secretary can declare a migrant’s application inadmissible when transiting through a safe third country like France.

With today’s announcement, this will apply to almost all migrants, of course.

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