New record of people crossing the Channel despite Home Office ploughing ahead with reckless ‘new plan’

‘If this Bill goes through it will make vulnerable people even more vulnerable and set a terrible example’ – Steve Valdez-Symonds

In response to the second reading of the Nationality and Borders Bill in parliament yesterday (19 July) and news of the highest ever single day total of migrants sailing across the Channel arrive in the UK, Steve Valdez-Symonds, Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme Director at Amnesty International UK, said:

“There are important measures in this Bill to right historical injustices in British nationality law, but sadly its totality is such an abomination that it is almost beyond repair. 

“Far from fixing our asylum system - the Bill is set to make it far, far worse. 

“Criminalising people just for trying to reach a place of safety is morally and legally indefensible. People cross the Channel and put themselves in serious danger because there are simply no safe alternatives open to them.

“If this Bill goes through it will make vulnerable people even more vulnerable and set a terrible example. Other countries are similarly likely to shut the door to those seeking asylum. 

“Instead of taking its international responsibilities over refugee rights seriously, the UK is effectively passing the buck to other countries.

“Unless MPs drastically amend this Bill, we will end up with even more chaos and delay in our dysfunctional immigration system.”