Lawmakers say UK’s planned law to deport Channel migrants breaches rights obligations

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A group of British lawmakers has expressed concern that the United Kingdom will breach its international human rights obligations if it proceeds with its government’s plan to detain and deport individuals who cross the English Channel in small boats.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights in Parliament stated that the Illegal Migration Bill not only violates several of the UK’s international human rights commitments but also poses a risk of breaching others.

Joanna Cherry, a lawmaker from the Scottish National Party who chairs the committee, emphasized that the proposed law would effectively prevent most refugees and victims of modern slavery from seeking asylum in Britain. She argued that treating victims of modern slavery as “illegal migrants” eligible for detention and removal would not only violate legal obligations but also increase the vulnerability of these individuals to human trafficking.

The committee strongly recommended that the government introduce significant amendments to the bill, including exempting trafficking victims and restricting the government’s power to detain people indefinitely. However, it is unlikely that the government, which had promised to “stop the boats,” will heed these recommendations.

In an effort to deter unauthorized arrivals, the legislation prohibits asylum claims by individuals who reach the UK through unauthorized means. It also mandates the detention and subsequent deportation of refugees and migrants to either their home country or a designated safe third country like Rwanda. Once deported, these individuals would be permanently banned from re-entering the UK.

The Conservative government of Britain argues that the law will dissuade tens of thousands of people from embarking on dangerous journeys across the English Channel and disrupt the criminal networks facilitating these trips. Nevertheless, critics, including the United Nations’ refugee agency, have criticized the legislation as morally objectionable and unfeasible.

The parliamentary committee raised doubts about the law’s effectiveness as a deterrent and warned that it may lead to individuals seeking alternative, potentially more hazardous, routes into the UK.

While the bill has been approved by the House of Commons, where the Conservative Party holds the majority, it is facing opposition in the House of Lords. Although the Lords can introduce amendments, they cannot block the legislation entirely.

Last year, over 45,000 people, including many fleeing conflict-ridden countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, arrived in Britain by crossing the English Channel in small boats. This marked a significant increase from the 8,500 arrivals in 2020.

To address the influx of asylum seekers awaiting decisions, the government has accommodated many individuals in hotels, which is reported to cost taxpayers millions of pounds per day. Authorities have now proposed utilizing unused military camps and a docked barge along the southern English coast to house new arrivals.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about deportation of Channel migrants

More about deportation of Channel migrants

• UK Illegal Migration Bill
• Joint Committee on Human Rights
• United Nations Refugee Agency
• House of Commons
• House of Lords
• Migration News Coverage by AP