The draft bill was introduced by Home Secretary Priti Patel as the Nationals and Borders Bill in the House of Commons last July, so that the UK could have “full control of its borders” and prevent prevent abuse.
As is customary practice, the proposed bill was then sent to the House of Commons for approval.
But the Senate rejected its key provisions and instead recommended changes that were more in line with international standards.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said that the Lord’s “resounding rejection” of key provisions of the bill would send a convincing signal to the UK Government that it indeed in need of “major amendments”.
Guide to the Refugee Convention
“I appeal to the Government and MPs [members of Parliament] in the House of Representatives to act on this signal and bring the proposed legislation into line with international human rights law and 1951 Refugee Convention‘ said Mrs. Bachelet.
She added that if the current proposals were not amended, the resulting law would “punish people who enter the UK by illegal means as if they were criminals.”
Any such development would contravene international law and standards and separate asylum-seekers arriving in the UK “into two tiers, violating the right of each person to have an individual assessment of their protection needs.” their own,” emphasized the High Commissioner.
Nationality is stripped
In one declare The High Commissioner also warned that “The Bill as originally formulated would allow British nationals to be stripped of their UK citizenship without notice and in an arbitrary manner, at the risk of increasing their State of Invalidity”. nationality.”
Ms. Bachelet also highlighted how the proposed “widespread criminalization of those who facilitate illegal migration could punish and discourage those rescuing migrants in distress at sea, potentially leading to to dire consequences, including a more catastrophic loss of life in the Channel.”
Critics of reforms led by the British Government have expressed concern that the proposals make it easier to prosecute asylum seekers before they have a chance to seek asylum. And they have condemned plans to set up offshore processing centers for those seeking international protection in the UK.
“The proposed foreign processing centers will expose asylum seekers to real risks of forced transfer, prolonged isolation and deprivation of liberty,” Ms. Bachelet stressed. , violating their human rights and dignity,” stressed Ms. Bachelet.
In 2021, the number of asylum applications to the UK reached 48,540, according to the UK House of Commons Library.
