The government’s Illegal Migration Bill to stop the boats is
continuing its progress through Parliament and returning to the
Lords for its second reading today, Wednesday 10 May.
The new legislation will break the business model of the people
smuggling gangs, restore fairness to the UK’s asylum system and
deter migrants from making the treacherous journey across the
Channel by removing those arriving illegally to their home
country, if it is safe, or a safe third country where their
claims can be heard.
As the Prime Minister has set out, stopping the boats to ensure
no one can use this dangerous and illegal route to the UK, is one
of the government’s 5 top priorities.
Recent amendments ensure the bill will better deter people from
making last minute claims in an attempt to avoid removal, and set
out the government’s commitment to provide safe and legal routes
for those most in need. Together these strengthened the bill to
further reassure it is both legally watertight and clear on the
protections available to children.
Home Secretary said:
We cannot allow a system to continue which incentivises people to
risk their lives and pay people smugglers to come to this country
illegally.
This is neither compassionate nor fair – which is why our Illegal
Migration Bill is designed to end illegal entry as a route to
asylum in the UK by deterring migrants from making the journey in
the first place.
The British people want us to stop the boats. That is exactly
what this bill will help us do. It has been designed with the
assistance of some of the country’s finest legal minds to ensure
it delivers for the British public in a manner consistent with
rule of law and robust to legal challenge.
We are committed to ensuring that this legislation passes through
Parliament as soon as possible, and urge the Lords to back the
bill, so we can get on with stopping the boats.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary said:
This bill gives us the robust but fair legal framework needed to
remove illegal migrants swiftly and curb last-minute challenges,
while ensuring proper opportunity to appeal remains.
The rule of law is undermined if immigration rules set by
Parliament are not upheld.
The Illegal Migration Bill recently passed through the House of
Commons, with a majority of 289 votes to 230. It now progresses
through the House of Lords, starting with its second reading.
This provides a first opportunity for peers across the House to
debate the principles of the bill. The Lords will then begin
detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny of the bill at committee stage
provisionally starting at the end of May.
