New UK Immigration Bill: Controversies and Consequences

By Sanwar Ali:

The UK government's controversial new immigration bill continues to attract a great deal of criticism as reported by The Guardian. With the government refusing to make further concessions, concerns are rising about its legality and effectiveness.

Immigration Bill: A Stand-Off Between Commons and Lords

The government's refusal to budge on the immigration bill is causing a stir. Despite the House of Lords voting to reinstate provisions removed by MPs earlier in the week, the government is standing firm. A series of votes have led to a "ping pong" situation, with the draft legislation being sent back and forth between the House of Lords and the Commons.

The bill is expected to be passed before the summer recess, but not without a fight. Late-night sittings and long voting sessions are anticipated as disagreements over the Lords amendments continue.

"There will be no more concessions," a government source said. "It won't be us who blinks again."

Key Figures Backing Amendments

Prominent figures, including Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, back the amendments. These changes are meant to bolster the bill's effectiveness and mitigate potential issues.

MPs will debate the bill again soon, and the government is expected to strip out the Lords amendments. The government's previous backdown on key issues is unlikely to happen again.

Legal Battle over Rwanda Removal Policy

Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who is of Indian ancestry, has been given the green light to take a legal fight over the government's Rwanda removal policy to the supreme court. This move is expected, as Braverman hopes to overturn a court of appeal ruling deeming the plan unlawful.

Braverman believes the policy to be lawful and necessary to curb the small boat crisis. She argues that innovative solutions are needed to stop people-smuggling gangs and prevent further loss of life in the Channel.

Amendments and Criticisms

The government faced criticism from Tory MPs and agreed to abandon plans to backdate migrant removals to March. The issue of immigration and asylum is an extremely divisive one, as pointed out by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Archbishop challenged the government to support all the latest amendments, including his push for a 10-year strategy for international collaboration on refugees and human trafficking.

A Decade-Long Strategy?

The Archbishop's push for a decade-long strategy was backed by David Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary. He believes a long-term strategy is more appropriate than one aimed at the general election.

However, the government believes this approach is unnecessary, stating that it is already aware of the need to develop a strategy and cooperate with international partners.

Other Changes to the Bill

Other amendments to the bill include protections for LGBT people facing deportation and the consideration of asylum claims from migrants arriving by unauthorised routes, if they have not been removed from the UK within six months.

Allegations of Ineffectiveness and Exploitation

Critics argue that the bill will do little to resolve the small boat crisis. There are claims that the legislation is a cynical move to exploit a heated issue for political gain, causing Labour and the House of Lords to staunchly oppose it.

The government insists that the bill is a crucial part of Rishi Sunak's plan to deter people from the dangerous Channel crossing. It aims to prevent people from claiming asylum if they arrive through unauthorised means and ensure their prompt removal.

The System Being Gamed?

Simon Murray, a Home Office minister, voiced concerns that considering asylum claims of people not removed within six months could lead to more people trying to "game the system" by launching spurious claims to run down the clock.

Contradictory Claims and Statistics

Despite Sunak's claim that "our approach is working", statistics seem to tell a different story. June saw a record number of small boat crossings, with 3,824 people making the trip - the highest ever in June since records began five years ago.

Is the UK Immigration Bill Legal?

With the increase in boat arrivals, questions arise about the legality of the UK immigration bill under UK and international law. Critics argue that the government's policy has failed and that the immigration law is potentially racist.

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