18 July 2023 , 17:16
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The Government's cruel small boats bill breaks international law and will put refugees at risk of exploitation and abuse, the UN has warned.
Last night Tories brushed aside deep opposition to the Illegal Migration Bill, with critics warning it will be a "traffickers' charter" that will prevent victims of modern slavery escaping.
Two senior UN chiefs have called for the Bill, which has now passed through the Commons and the Lords, to be reversed.
In a joint statement, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi hit out at the draconian legislation, put forward by Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
Mr Grandi said: “For decades, the UK has provided refuge to those in need, in line with its international obligations – a tradition of which it has been rightly proud.
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"This new legislation significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many, exposing refugees to grave risks in breach of international law."
The UN chiefs' statement warned the bill denies access for anyone - including unaccompanied and separated children - fleeing persecution who arrives in the UK by an irregular route.
They said the Bill "is at variance with the country’s obligations under international human rights and refugee law".
And they said that as the UK lacks "viable removal arrangements" with third countries, thousands of asylum seekers "can be expected to remain in the UK indefinitely in precarious legal situations".
The measures will prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means. Ministers claimed detained people will be quickly removed, either to their home country of a third country like Rwanda.
Despite a wave of criticism, the Government was able to muster enough support for the Bill despite opposition from within its own benches.
Former Tory PM Theresa May opposed the withdrawal of modern slavery protection (PA)Former Tory PM Theresa May previously saying they would "consign more people to slavery", while ex-leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told MPs he was concerned it would result in fewer prosecutions of trafficking gangs.
And In a harrowing assessment of the legislation, Labour's Dame Diana Johnson - who chairs the influential Home Affairs Select Committee - said there is an "urgent need" to open up more escape routes for trafficked victims.
She said the Bill would do nothing to tackle "industrial scale sexual exploitation" with exploited women being "raped multiple times a day".
Dame Diana said: "Under this legislation they won't be offered help and assistance, they'll be detained and removed."
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She continued: "Removing that Modern Slavery protection certainly do nothing to do what we all want to happen, which is bring criminal gangs orchestrating this abuse to justice."
But her pleas failed to persuade the Commons, with an amendment calling for protection to remain in place passing by 282 to 227.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "This new law is a con which will only make the Tories’ asylum chaos worse. It fails to tackle the criminal smuggler gangs and makes it easier for traffickers."
Downing Street welcomed the passage of the Bill - but said the Rwanda policy must overcome its legal hurdle for the policy to be fully functional.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "This is an important part of our work to stop the boats, obviously it needs to be paired with the Rwanda partnership which is being challenged in the courts.
"It's right that we have this power in place so it can be utilised swiftly and we remain confident we will be successful in the challenge in the Supreme Court."
The spokesman said when the Bill gets Royal Assent it will make "powers available" to Home Secretary Suella Braverman to start detaining people but does not "require" the move.
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