A controversial borders bill proposed by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has been voted down in the House of Lords, and campaigners have described it as a “victory for compassion.”
Policy proposals that are key parts to Patel’s borders bill were voted down by peers, who rejected plans in the Nationality and Borders Bill to criminalize and penalize refugees based on how they arrived in the United Kingdom. The Home Office was urged to “take heed”.
Patel wanted to criminalize refugees under clause 11 and give British ministers the power to strip people of British citizenship without any notice under clause 9.
Both measures have been extremely and widely criticized. Even Patel’s own party has criticized her proposals.
The first measure under Clause 11 would criminalize asylum seekers if they come into the UK by an unauthorized route, including traveling in small boats or by stowing away in vehicles. They would also be blocked from being granted refugee status regardless of their claim and how strong it is.
They would then be imprisoned or granted a form of temporary status that would give them no access to benefits, no family reunion rights. They would be regularly assessed for removal from the UK.
The UNHCR said this proposal would breach the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Conservatives told Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the policy was dangerous and would cause the UK to breach major international obligations.
Clause 9 would allow the home secretary to strip British citizenship from people without notifying them if she thought it was a national interest or a public interest. Experts said that this policy would make minority communities at extreme risk and open them up to more injustices. It has also been widely described as a power grab by Patel.
Next, the bill will go back to the House of Commons. A vote is expected within a few weeks.
Be the first to comment