The Nationality and Borders Act passed today (Thursday 28 April
2022) will deliver the biggest overhaul of our asylum system in
decades.
The Nationality and Borders Act will deter illegal entry into the
UK, breaking the business model of people-smuggling networks, and
speed up the removal of those with no right to be in the UK.
This will in turn free up the asylum system so we can better
support those in genuine need of asylum through safe and legal
routes.
In addition, the act puts into law that those who arrive
illegally in the UK – who could have claimed asylum in another
safe country – can be considered as ‘inadmissible’ to the UK
asylum system.
Home Secretary said:
This is a huge milestone in our commitment to our promise to the
British public - a fair but firm immigration system.
While there is no single solution to the global migration crisis,
these new laws are the first step in overhauling our decades-old,
broken asylum system.
We will now work tirelessly to deliver these reforms to ensure we
have an immigration system that protects those in genuine need
while cracking down on abuse of the system and evil
people-smuggling gangs.
These key reforms will be operating alongside a raft of other new
measures, including:
- tougher penalties for people smugglers with a maximum
sentence of life imprisonment
- increasing the maximum penalty for illegally entering the UK
or overstaying a visa to 4 years’ imprisonment
- new measures to end the merry-go-round of legal challenges
which can be used to frustrate removal of those with no right to
be in the UK
- cracking down on adults pretending to be children by
introducing scientific methods for age assessment
- a new US-style Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme to slam
the door on criminals before they even get here
Officers, prosecutors, caseworkers and judges will be able to
make full use of these new powers from the summer once new
guidance and training is rolled out.
Given the extent of these reforms, measures will be implemented
over the coming months and into next year.
Royal Assent of the Nationality and Borders Act comes after Prime
Minister announced a package of
measures to tackle illegal migration earlier in the month.
This included a world-leading partnership with Rwanda to relocate
people entering the UK via dangerous or illegal journeys, such as
by small boat or hidden in lorries, to have their asylum claim
processed in Rwanda to build a new life.
