Illegal Migration Bill Passes Through The House Of Commons

• Published date: 19 July 2023
• Subject Matter: Government, Public Sector, Immigration, Human Rights, General Immigration
• Law Firm: Bindmans LLP
• Author: Amy O'Shea

Yesterday, the government's Illegal Migration Bill passed through the House of Commons by 289 votes to 230. It will now be voted on in the House of Lords.

Amy O'Shea, trainee solicitor in our Immigration, Asylum and Nationality team, comments:

The passing of the Illegal Migration Bill is deeply saddening, and marks yet another shameful day for the UK in its treatment of migrants.

The Bill intends to stop all of those arriving in the UK 'illegally' from being able to make asylum or human rights claims here at all, even where they have genuine claims. It punishes refugees for the way they reached the UK, despite the fact these individuals are fleeing persecution in their home country, often with limited documents, resources and finances.

The Bill puts the UK in opposition to its international obligations and conventions to which it was a founding signatory - the Refugee Convention and the European Convention of Human Rights, both rooted in history of the atrocities of war and genocide. However, beyond being in contravention to the law, the Bill is inhumane in its complete lack of compassion or care for those fleeing persecution.

The government rhetoric is that those seeking asylum...