UK’s controversial immigration plan

Britain’s Conservative government has set out a new law barring the entry of asylum seekers to the UK in small boats, but critics say it could criminalize the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees


KEY POINTS OF PROPOSED BILL

Migrants arriving on small boats will be detained without bail or judicial review for first 28 days

Duty on Home Secretary to detain those arriving illegally and remove them to home country or “safe” third country, such as Rwanda

Asylum claims will be heard remotely after removal

Under-18s, those medically unfit to fly or at risk of serious harm in country they are being removed to, can delay removal

Cap on number of refugees Britain will settle via “safe and legal routes” set annually
by Parliament

People removed from UK will be blocked from returning or seeking British citizenship in future


Home Secretary Suella Braverman admits parts of plan might be “incompatible” with European human rights law


COMPARISON OF MIGRANTS ARRIVING IN UK IN SMALL BOATS (000s)

Arrivals rose from around 300 in 2018 to more than 45,000 in 2022

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
						10  
						8
						6					
						4
   						2
      						0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 


Sources: Ministry of Defence, Bloomberg, BBC, Reuters
Picture: Getty Images 
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