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Rishi Sunak’s controversial new asylum law will do “little anything” to stop small boats from crossing the channel, a respected nonpartisan think tank warned.
The Government Research Institute (IfG) said there was little evidence to suggest the prime minister’s claims that the illegal immigration bill, which will be debated by parliamentarians on Monday, would be a “deterrent” to channel immigration.
Instead, the law is likely to prove “extremely difficult” and “costly,” leading to legal challenges and causing “real human harm,” the think tank said. unusually candid reporting.
Rhys Clyne, senior researcher and author of the IfG report, said: ”
This law means that all people arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel in a dinghy will be considered ‘unacceptable’ for asylum and eligible for detention and deportation. That the government has signed a removal contract that is stuck in court.
However, the IfG said recent evidence showed the government’s options for deportation destinations were “very limited”, with more than 18,000 asylum seekers deemed unacceptable to the UK last year. 21 of them indicated that they had been abducted.
And while Rwanda currently has the capacity to handle only 200 people, the minister insists there is no overall limit, which is small compared to the more than 45,000 people who arrived on small boats last year. points out.
The UK has a limited number of withdrawal agreements with other safe countries and “importantly does not have one with France,” the report said.
The UK can deport Albanians to their countries of origin, but almost half (46%) of the small boats arriving from crisis-hit Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Eritrea and Sudan are sent to other safe countries. must be transferred to the report said.
Without the ability to deport people, the IfG said that “tens of thousands of people would likely arrive in the UK in small boats, be detained and be declared ineligible for asylum in the UK. There is little chance of being taken away from.”
This raises the question of what happens to asylum seekers after they qualify for bail from custody after 28 days.
In the future, people are more likely to be destitute, impoverished, and in need of more serious and costly public services.
The report added: Assuming they are entitled to accommodation and support, it will only increase the demand and cost of hotel accommodation. ”
The cost of detaining people could be in excess of £1 billion, potentially requiring more than the two former RAF sites being considered for detention.
IfG points out former Home Secretary Priti Patel had to overrule her officials to introduce Rwanda, while Sunak says the new law will act as a deterrent to further crossings once it comes into force. He said there was “little evidence” to support the allegations. Because public officials failed to confirm that it offered value for money for public funds,
Interior Secretary Suela Braverman said more than 50% of the bills were found to be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, meaning it would very likely face legal challenge in the Strasbourg Courts that oversee the treaty. the report said. .
The report concludes:
“It’s certainly a signal[of an upcoming general election].
“However, it is less clear whether this law makes any material difference to the actual reality of asylum and small boat crossings.”
Home Secretary Suera Braverman said: “The British people rightly expect us to resolve this crisis and that is exactly what the Prime Minister and I intend. .
“It is completely unfair for people who have passed through a series of safe countries to come to the UK illegally and abuse the asylum laws to avoid exclusion.
“It has to stop. We are introducing new legislation to make it clear that the only route to the UK is a safe and legal one. If you come here illegally, you can apply for asylum.” or build a life here.
“You will not be allowed to stay. You will either go home if it is safe or you will be sent to a safe third country like Rwanda. People are risking their lives and paying criminals thousands of pounds.” It’s the only way to prevent them from getting here.”