Those who enter the UK illegally will find it harder to stay
under fundamental reforms in the Nationality and Borders Bill
entering Parliament today (Tuesday 6 July 2021).
The Government’s fair but firm New Plan for
Immigration, first published in March 2021, set out the most
radical changes to the broken asylum system in decades.
It will prioritise those most in need of protection while
stopping the abuse of the system.
Home Secretary said:
“For too long, our broken asylum system has lined the pockets of
the vile criminal gangs who cheat the system. This isn’t fair to
the vulnerable people who need protection or the British public
who pay for it. It’s time to act.
“This legislation delivers on what the British people have voted
for time and time again - for the UK to take full control of its
borders. It paves the way for a fair but firm system that will
break the business model of the gangs that facilitate dangerous
and illegal journeys to the UK while speeding up the removal of
those with no right to be here.”
Lord Chancellor, QC MP, said:
“Our reforms will ensure that immigration appeals are heard
fairly but not repeatedly – resolving cases more quickly and
reducing the burden on our legal system.
“All too often judges are asked to review cases that have already
been rejected on multiple occasions and stand zero chance of
being overturned. These clog the system at taxpayers’ expense,
delay the removal of people who have no legal right to be in the
country, and cause misery to those with legitimate claims
awaiting resolution.”
The Government has already ended freedom of movement with the EU
and introduced a points-based immigration system to welcome the
brightest and the best from around the world. The Borders Bill
now tackles the challenge of illegal immigration.
The Bill will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in
the UK without permission to be here, sending a clear message to
migrants thinking about making the dangerous and illegal journey.
Other measures among the wide range of changes to overhaul the
system include:
- Making every effort to remove those who enter the UK
illegally having travelled through a safe country in which they
could and should have claimed asylum. Only where removal is not
possible, will those found to be in need of protection who have
entered illegally receive a new temporary protection status
rather than an automatic right to settle. They will be regularly
reassessed for removal from the UK. People entering illegally
will also have limited family reunion rights and limited access
to benefits
- Making it easier to remove someone to a safe country while
their asylum claim is processed
- Increasing the punishment for people smugglers who facilitate
illegal entry to the UK, who will face up to life imprisonment
- Giving the Home Secretary power to control visa availability
for countries refusing to take back their own citizens
- Overhauling the immigration and legal system to make it
fairer with faster access to justice to help prevent the need for
last minute legal claims
- A new and expanded ‘one-stop’ process to ensure that asylum,
human rights claims and any other protection matters are made and
considered together
- Changing how someone’s age is assessed to protect children
from being wrongly moved into the adult asylum system and stop
illegal entrants falsely claiming to be children
An ambitious range of other changes will take place in addition
to this Bill, including:
- Strengthening the safe and legal ways in which people can
enter the UK, including through the new UK Resettlement Scheme
which started in February 2021
- Granting resettled refugees indefinite leave to remain when
they get to the UK, so they have certainty and stability to
rebuild their lives, and helping them to learn English, get a job
and thrive
- Powers for the Home Secretary to grant British citizenship to
people who would have become British citizens if it wasn’t
unfairness and exceptional circumstances beyond their control
Notes to editors
The Nationality and Borders Bill is expected to enter Parliament
during the day on Tuesday 6 July and will be published on
https://bills.parliament.uk/.
The New Plan for Immigration policy proposals were published in
March 2021:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/new-plan-for-immigration/new-plan-for-immigration-policy-statement-accessible
Read more about how the UK helps refugees through safe and legal
routes:https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2021/06/14/how-does-the-uk-help-refugees-through-safe-and-legal-routes/
