At the end of March, the British government said it would take steps to house migrants on UK territory. On 28 March, the government presented a plan for Afghan refugees who came to the UK after the fall of Kabul in 2021. There were more than 22,000 and still 9,000 people are living in temporary accommodation (safe houses). According to that plan, 35 million pounds will be available to provide them with stable accommodation. However, the plan states that a single offer of accommodation will be made, which means that many Afghan migrants may have to move (with a change of job or a break in schooling for their children). Secretary of State Johny Mercer responded to criticism from human rights groups in a video on his Twitter account, justifying the plan on the grounds of (i) overcrowding in hotels, (ii) integrating Afghan migrants into British society. On 29 March, the Rishi Sunak government announced that it would house asylum seekers in disused military bases or even boats to alleviate the cost of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels. The Refugee Council has expressedstrong concerns about these announcements.
On March 13, the House of Commons approved the new Illegal Migration Bill presented by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet to reduce the numbers of undocumented migrants arriving on British shores. The bill places legal obligations on the home secretary to detain and deport arrivals fast. The plan would allow those who reach Britain via illegal routes to be detained without bail or judicial review for 28 days, and (if over 18) be sent to their home country or a third country like Rwanda, which remains the government’s first choice of destination for deportees unable to return to their home country. Once deported, migrants will not be allowed to settle or even return to the U.K. Asylum seekers will also be unable to claim that they are victims of modern slavery and most legal challenges will be considered only after deportation. New safe routes will be established, although probably not until after the small boats crisis is tackled, with an annual cap on refugees to be voted on by MPs. During a House of Commons statement released on March 7, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the new plan would send a signal that “if you enter Britain illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed.”
The controversial plan raises concerns over legal compatibility with the U.K.’s Human Rights Act, that incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into British law. A rarely used “Section 18B Statement” was attached to the bill, conceding that the new legislation may be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Several human rights groups criticized the bill that according to many will add to the trauma of migrants rather than stopping small boats crossing the Channel. Reactions came also from several international organizations and agencies. EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson branded it a violation of international law. The UNHCR also blasted the plan declaring that it denies access to asylum for those arriving illegally, who are subject to deportation and removal, and that it does not consider individual cirumstances such as the need of safety and protection.
On March 10, Rishi Sunak flew to Paris to attend a bilateral summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and restore ties after years of tensions between the two countries. Immigration policy was at the centre of the debate. According to the dealthe two leaders announced at the press conference, the U.K. will hand over £450 million for three years, allowing France to build a new detention center near its coast, double the number of French patrols on its beaches, and get more drones and other tech solutions into action. The following week, Braverman flew to Rwanda to promote the government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to the African country in a controversial deal signed last April by her predecessor. Braverman revealed that she had been encouraged by constructive talks with officials at the European Court of Human Rights on the possibility to overcome the legal challenges that prevented Rwanda deportation flights in June and that she hopes the flights can take off this summer.
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