The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle’s Justice & Peace Coordinating Council has expressed strong opposition to the HM Gov’s Illegal Migration Act, introduced in the House of Commons on 7 March 2023. The Council, alongside Catholic charities such as the Bishop’s Conference for England and Wales, the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) and more, contends that the bill violates human dignity and international law.
The Illegal Migration Act 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.
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.
Update:
The Government passed the Illegal Migration Act on 17 July 2023 and the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle’s Justice & Peace Co-ordinating Council has issued a statement on it’s passing. You can read it here.
