The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle’s Justice & Peace Co-ordinating Council has expressed strong opposition to the HM Gov’s recent Illegal Migration Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 7 March 2023. The Council, alongside Catholic charities such as the Bishops’ Conference for England and Wales, the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) and more, contends that the bill violates human dignity and international law.
Visit the Justice & Peace Illegal Migration Bill Campaign page [here] for further information and resource.
The Illegal Migration Bill seeks to halt illegal migration into the UK by eliminating incentives for hazardous small boat crossings, expediting the removal of individuals without the right to be in the UK, and cracking down on the exploitation of modern slavery protections. Additionally, the government pledges to resettle a specific number of vulnerable refugees in the UK every year.
The Bishops’ Conference for England and Wales emphasizes the need to recognize migrants and refugees as individuals with unique stories rather than problems to be addressed. CSAN is concerned that the bill would deny the right to seek refugee protection in the UK for those arriving irregularly, breach the UN Refugee Convention, and fail to establish safe routes for asylum seekers.
According to Home Office Statistics, 45,755 people crossed the Channel in small boats to reach the UK in 2022, with nearly 3,000 crossings occurring in 2023. Official estimates predict over 80,000 crossings this year. The Refugee Council states that the UK’s current detention capacity is approximately 2,286. If the new bill mandates the detention of everyone crossing in a small boat for 28 days, an additional capacity would be required, costing an estimated £219 million a year.
Legal experts have suggested that the bill may be challenged for its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. Potential grounds for a challenge include the right to family life (article 8) and the prohibition of degrading, inhuman treatment (article 3).
Opponents of the bill advocate for protecting refugees’ rights to seek asylum, upholding the UN Refugee Convention, providing safe routes to prevent dangerous journeys, and promoting a just and compassionate asylum system that fairly reduces the backlog. The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle’s Justice & Peace Co-ordinating Council encourages the Catholic community to voice their opposition to the bill and engage with their MPs. CSAN has published the following draft template letter here.
Visit the Justice & Peace Illegal Migration Bill Campaign page [here] for further information and resource.