Britain’s Home Secretary, Suella Braverman’s father is of Goan heritage and mother of Tamil heritage. File photo/Reuters
UK Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman announces crackdown on unsafe boats coming to UK illegally on small boats
Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, on Tuesday announced a new Illegal Migration Bill that would mean migrants coming to Britain illegally on small boats would be “rapidly” deported.
The minister, whose father is of Goan heritage and mother of Tamil heritage, made reference to her migrant roots during her statement in the House of Commons to detail a new “strong approach” against illegal immigration.
Braverman said, “They will not stop coming here until the world knows that if you enter the UK illegally you will be detained and swiftly deported back to your home country, if it is safe.” or a safe third country like Rwanda.”
And this bill will do just that. This is how we will stop the boats.
The Home Secretary said the new bill would mean last-minute judicial review is not allowed “late at night with no chance of making our case or even appealing a decision”.
Now, the United Kingdom must always support the world’s most vulnerable. Since 2015, we’ve given sanctuary to nearly half a million people. These include 150,000 people from Hong Kong, 160,000 people from Ukraine, 25,000 Afghans who fled from the Taliban.
Braverman said, “Indeed, my own parents found safety and opportunity in this country decades ago, for which my family will forever be grateful.”
“For a government not to respond to the waves of illegal immigrants breaching our borders would be to betray the will of the people we were elected to serve,” he said.
Under the new law, it will be his duty as home secretary to “remove” those entering the UK through illegal routes. It would take legal precedence over anyone’s right to claim asylum – although there would be exemptions for those under 18, those with serious medical conditions, and some “at real risk of serious and irreversible harm”.
Any other claim for asylum will be heard remotely after removal. The bill allows illegal arrivals to be stopped without bail or judicial review within the first 28 days of detention, unless they can be removed.
In addition to cracking down on unsafe boats coming from the French sea border, Braverman also revealed plans for an annual parliament-set limit on migrants seeking asylum through safe routes into Britain.
The bill, whose full details have yet to be published in parliament, comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hinted at the weekend of plans for a tougher new law.
Sunak told the ‘Sunday Express’ newspaper: ‘Make no mistake, if you come here illegally you will not be able to stay here.’
Refugee charities and human rights groups have warned of legal implications for vulnerable asylum seekers.
“Of course, the UK will always seek to uphold international law and I am confident that this bill is consistent with international obligations,” Braverman insisted in the Commons.
The opposition Labor Party has cast doubt on the bill’s legality and feasibility, and the Liberal Democrats said ministers had drawn up “another half-baked plan”.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)