The UN criticized on Tuesday the approval of the new British migration law by the House of Lords, considering that it is contrary to international law and “sets a worrying precedent” that other countries “may be tempted to follow”.
After controversial legislation was passed by the House of Lords on Monday night allowing the British government to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda, paving the way for its enactment this week, the United Nations High Commissioners for Human Rights, Volker Turk, and for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, issued a joint statement on Tuesday, warning “of the profound impact” that the approval of this law will have “on human rights and on the international refugee protection system.”
“The Illegal Migration Bill now passed by the UK Parliament is in contradiction with the country’s international human rights and refugee obligations and will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection,” warn the two UK officials. UN.
Pointing out that “the bill extinguishes access to asylum in the United Kingdom for any person who arrives irregularly, having passed through a country – even for a short time – in which they have not been a victim of persecution”, the The UN stresses that the legislation “requires their displacement to another country, without any guarantee that they will necessarily have access to protection there”, creating “new and extensive powers of detention, with limited judicial control”.
“For decades, the UK has provided shelter to those who need it, in line with its international obligations, a tradition in which it is rightly proud. This new legislation significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many people, exposing the refugees at grave risk, in violation of international law,” says Filippo Grandi.
Volker Turk notes that the legislation “denies access to protection in the UK to anyone who falls within its scope, including unaccompanied and separated children.”
“Carrying out deportations in these circumstances is contrary to the prohibitions of repulsion and collective expulsions, to procedural guarantees, to family and private life and to the principle of the best interests of the affected children,” he points out, recalling that “Most people fleeing war and persecution do not have or do not have access to formal documents such as passports and visas.
Reinforcing that “the UK has long been committed to upholding international human rights and refugee law”, a commitment that “is more necessary than ever”, UN officials urge the UK government to “renew that commitment to human rights by repealing this law and guaranteeing that the rights of all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are respected, protected and fulfilled, without discrimination”.
The controversial legislation passed the House of Commons on Monday, after the Conservative Party rejected changes to the text to reduce detention periods for unaccompanied children, strengthen protections for victims of modern slavery and delay six months. the deportation of immigrants.
The end of the legislative deadlock, which lasted several weeks, paves the way for the Illegal Migration Law proposal to be promulgated this week by King Carlos III.
The legislation is one of Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s main moves to deter people from entering the country illegally on small boats that cross the English Channel.
Last year more than 45,000 arrived in the UK by that route, a record, compared to less than 300 in 2018. This year there are already around 13,000.
The legislation allows the Executive to expel any person who illegally enters the United Kingdom to the country of origin or to “a safe third country”, such as Rwanda, under an agreement already signed with that African country.
People who have entered the country illegally can also be forever banned from re-entering the country or applying for British citizenship.
The legislation has been the subject of much criticism in the UK and by international organisations. A first flight to Rwanda in June 2022 was canceled following a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
At the end of June, the British court declared the bill illegal, but the government appealed, pending a decision by the Supreme Court, the last judicial instance (equivalent to the Constitutional Court), later this year.
Source: TSF
