UNHCR 'regrets' UK Lords' passing of Borders Bill, says refugees facing 'real suffering'
The UNHCR expressed its strong disappointment and disapproval over the passing of the Borders Bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday.
The bill will now go back to the House of Commons, where it is expected to become law [source: Getty]
The New Arab Staff
28 April, 2022
The United Nations' refugee agency criticised the passing of the UK Nationality and Borders Bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday, saying the legislation “undermines international refugee law”.
The controversial bill has previously faced several defeats in the Lords, as peers challenged clauses which differentiate asylum seekers based on their method of arrival and sought to ensure legislation complied with the 1951 Refugee Convention.
However, on Wednesday evening the upper house of the British parliament voted to pass the bill after hard-sought amendments were dropped.
The bill has now been handed back to the House of Commons, which has a Conservative majority that repeatedly supported the legislation.
The UNHCR said it “regrets that final amendments to the [bill] were rejected,” in a tweet on Wednesday.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said: “It is disappointing that [the UK] would choose a course of action aimed at deterring the seeking of asylum by relegating most refugees to a new, lesser status with few rights and a constant threat of removal.”
The bill includes clauses that allow for indefinite detention, offshore processing and “pushbacks” in the English Channel.
The British government officially withdrew their “refugee pushback” policy ahead of legal challenges by refugee charities just this week. But, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel also stressed that nothing was “off the table” when it comes to migration policies.
UK charities and rights groups, including The Refugee Council and Amnesty International, have slammed the Borders Bill for penalising asylum seekers.
“It truly is a bleak day for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution," said Amnesty's Steve Valdez-Symonds.
The rights group say the law will intensify the exploitation of vulnerable people and do little to create a fairer, safer system in which people fleeing war and prosecution can seek refuge in Britain.
The UK Home Office, however, told The New Arab that the bill “will fix [the] broken asylum system, helping those in genuine need while tackling people-smuggling gangs”.
The 1951 Refugee Convention stipulates that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. This is now considered a rule of customary international law. UNHCR serves as the "guardian" of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
The UNHCR expressed its strong disappointment and disapproval over the passing of the Borders Bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday.
The bill will now go back to the House of Commons, where it is expected to become law [source: Getty]
The New Arab Staff
28 April, 2022
The United Nations' refugee agency criticised the passing of the UK Nationality and Borders Bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday, saying the legislation “undermines international refugee law”.
The controversial bill has previously faced several defeats in the Lords, as peers challenged clauses which differentiate asylum seekers based on their method of arrival and sought to ensure legislation complied with the 1951 Refugee Convention.
However, on Wednesday evening the upper house of the British parliament voted to pass the bill after hard-sought amendments were dropped.
The bill has now been handed back to the House of Commons, which has a Conservative majority that repeatedly supported the legislation.
The UNHCR said it “regrets that final amendments to the [bill] were rejected,” in a tweet on Wednesday.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said: “It is disappointing that [the UK] would choose a course of action aimed at deterring the seeking of asylum by relegating most refugees to a new, lesser status with few rights and a constant threat of removal.”
The bill includes clauses that allow for indefinite detention, offshore processing and “pushbacks” in the English Channel.
The British government officially withdrew their “refugee pushback” policy ahead of legal challenges by refugee charities just this week. But, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel also stressed that nothing was “off the table” when it comes to migration policies.
UK charities and rights groups, including The Refugee Council and Amnesty International, have slammed the Borders Bill for penalising asylum seekers.
“It truly is a bleak day for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution," said Amnesty's Steve Valdez-Symonds.
The rights group say the law will intensify the exploitation of vulnerable people and do little to create a fairer, safer system in which people fleeing war and prosecution can seek refuge in Britain.
The UK Home Office, however, told The New Arab that the bill “will fix [the] broken asylum system, helping those in genuine need while tackling people-smuggling gangs”.
The 1951 Refugee Convention stipulates that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. This is now considered a rule of customary international law. UNHCR serves as the "guardian" of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
Wed, 27 April 2022,
Record numbers of migrants crossing the Channel from northern France have heaped political pressure on the government in London to act
(AFP/BEN STANSALL)
Britain on Thursday hailed what it said was a "world-leading" reform of its asylum system, despite widespread condemnation and claims that it breaks international law.
Home Secretary Priti Patel called the passing of the controversial Nationality and Borders Act a "landmark" that created changes fit for the 21st century.
The act, which cleared parliament late on Wednesday, notably introduces maximum life sentences for people smugglers blamed for facilitating irregular migration.
But it also imposes tougher jail terms for anyone arriving illegally in the country, which has raised fears it could be used against asylum-seekers.
The act provides greater powers to speed up the removal of failed asylum claimants and "dangerous foreign criminals", as well as stops what Patel called "meritless" legal challenges to prevent deportation.
Immediate entry has been made tougher for arrivals who have travelled to Britain through a safe country before making their claim.
"The UK has a proud record of resettling those who are most vulnerable and we will now be able to strengthen our safe and legal routes for those most in need of resettlement," said Patel in a video statement.
"These measures in this new law are what the British people have asked for: a fair but firm asylum system fit for the 21st century."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made "taking back control" of Britain's borders a key plank of his successful campaign to leave the European Union.
But Patel -- whose own parents fled Idi Amin's Uganda -- and the government have found implementing that pledge more problematic.
Last year, record numbers of migrants crossed the Channel from northern France, ratcheting up political pressure on ministers to act.
Earlier this month, the government signed a deal to send migrants who have arrived by the risky sea route since January 1 for resettlement in Rwanda.
Human rights groups and charities supporting refugees and migrants slammed the plan, and some organisations are threatening to take the government to court.
- 'Devastating blow' -
UN refugees chief Filippo Grandi said the new laws could break both the letter and spirit of global refugee conventions to which Britain is a signatory.
He said he was disappointed the country was looking to shut its doors to asylum-seekers and give refugees a lesser status, with the constant threat of removal.
"Wide-ranging inadmissibility rules have the potential to deny refugees their right to seek asylum in the UK," he added.
"Such provisions are potentially at variance with the Refugee Convention."
Oxfam's head of government relations, Sam Nadel, called the new law "heinous" and a "devastating blow for families fleeing conflict and persecution".
"The government should be protecting, not punishing, refugees," he added.
Britain in March relaxed its immigration requirements for Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion, after criticism it was not going far enough to accommodate refugees.
According to the latest government figures, some 86,100 visas had been issued as of Wednesday under amended rules for family members and a host family scheme for Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion.
But even here, less than a third of those granted visas had actually arrived in Britain, with red tape blamed for holding up travel plans.
Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, waded into the issue on Thursday, as he visited a community centre in west London.
One woman, a qualified psychotherapist who fled Turkey 19 months ago, told him she was seeking asylum but was unable to work while her claim was being processed.
"We need to do something," he said.
Ukrainian arrivals will be allowed to work and access welfare payments.
phz/cjo/har
Britain on Thursday hailed what it said was a "world-leading" reform of its asylum system, despite widespread condemnation and claims that it breaks international law.
Home Secretary Priti Patel called the passing of the controversial Nationality and Borders Act a "landmark" that created changes fit for the 21st century.
The act, which cleared parliament late on Wednesday, notably introduces maximum life sentences for people smugglers blamed for facilitating irregular migration.
But it also imposes tougher jail terms for anyone arriving illegally in the country, which has raised fears it could be used against asylum-seekers.
The act provides greater powers to speed up the removal of failed asylum claimants and "dangerous foreign criminals", as well as stops what Patel called "meritless" legal challenges to prevent deportation.
Immediate entry has been made tougher for arrivals who have travelled to Britain through a safe country before making their claim.
"The UK has a proud record of resettling those who are most vulnerable and we will now be able to strengthen our safe and legal routes for those most in need of resettlement," said Patel in a video statement.
"These measures in this new law are what the British people have asked for: a fair but firm asylum system fit for the 21st century."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made "taking back control" of Britain's borders a key plank of his successful campaign to leave the European Union.
But Patel -- whose own parents fled Idi Amin's Uganda -- and the government have found implementing that pledge more problematic.
Last year, record numbers of migrants crossed the Channel from northern France, ratcheting up political pressure on ministers to act.
Earlier this month, the government signed a deal to send migrants who have arrived by the risky sea route since January 1 for resettlement in Rwanda.
Human rights groups and charities supporting refugees and migrants slammed the plan, and some organisations are threatening to take the government to court.
- 'Devastating blow' -
UN refugees chief Filippo Grandi said the new laws could break both the letter and spirit of global refugee conventions to which Britain is a signatory.
He said he was disappointed the country was looking to shut its doors to asylum-seekers and give refugees a lesser status, with the constant threat of removal.
"Wide-ranging inadmissibility rules have the potential to deny refugees their right to seek asylum in the UK," he added.
"Such provisions are potentially at variance with the Refugee Convention."
Oxfam's head of government relations, Sam Nadel, called the new law "heinous" and a "devastating blow for families fleeing conflict and persecution".
"The government should be protecting, not punishing, refugees," he added.
Britain in March relaxed its immigration requirements for Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion, after criticism it was not going far enough to accommodate refugees.
According to the latest government figures, some 86,100 visas had been issued as of Wednesday under amended rules for family members and a host family scheme for Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion.
But even here, less than a third of those granted visas had actually arrived in Britain, with red tape blamed for holding up travel plans.
Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, waded into the issue on Thursday, as he visited a community centre in west London.
One woman, a qualified psychotherapist who fled Turkey 19 months ago, told him she was seeking asylum but was unable to work while her claim was being processed.
"We need to do something," he said.
Ukrainian arrivals will be allowed to work and access welfare payments.
phz/cjo/har
UK plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda draws outrage
An asylum reform bill proposed by the British government is set to become law after overcoming a final hurdle in parliament on Wednesday. Faced with criticism, the government has defended the bill as necessary to break lucrative smuggling networks and to dissuade migrants from making dangerous sea crossings.
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