THE Prime Minister has announced controversial new plans to tackle “illegal immigration and stop small boat crossings across the channel”.

The new law (if passed) will ban people arriving illegally in the UK from seeking asylum and will give the Home Secretary powers to deport those arrive within 28 days. 

Mr Halfon told YH that the UK has a proud history of welcoming those most in need, with thousands opening their homes or offering help to people fleeing Ukraine or Hong Kong in the last year, but those arriving on small boats are “not directly fleeing a war-torn country or facing an imminent threat to life”. 

This plan to tackle the small boats will ensure that those who come here illegally can’t claim asylum, while being fair to those who have a legitimate claim. The new law will create powers to:

1. Immediately detain anybody arriving on a small boat;
2. Remove illegal immigrants to a safe third country within a matter of weeks;
3. Ban anybody arriving illegally from seeking asylum in the UK;
4. Deny access to the UK’s modern slavery system for anybody arriving illegally; 
5. Stop late and spurious claims to delay the removal of illegal immigrants to a safe third country. 

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Halfon said, “Harlow is a welcoming and inclusive town and encourages people from all backgrounds to call the town home; however, I know that constituents are also concerned about the impact of illegal migration on our hospitals, schools and other public infrastructure. Today, the Government has taken action to tackle this problem.

“I believe that we must be a compassionate, welcoming and kind country that supports those with a genuine need to seek asylum in the UK. But taking back control of our borders is not the same as being uncompassionate and we must have an immigration that is fair to the UK taxpayer.

“I welcome the new legislation proposed by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary that will take action once and for all to stop illegal immigration and crack down on people smugglers who make thousands of pounds trafficking vulnerable people, and children, across continents by ensuring they will now face the full force of the law.”

Announcing the new plan to stop the boats, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said, “The British people rightly expect us to solve this crisis and that’s what myself and the Prime Minister fully intend to do. We must stop the boats. It is completely unfair that people who travel through a string of safe countries then come to the UK illegally and abuse our asylum laws to avoid removal.

“It has to stop. By bringing in new laws, I am making it absolutely clear that the only route to the UK is a safe and legal route. If you come here illegally, you won’t be able to claim asylum or build a life here. You will not be allowed to stay. You will be returned home if safe, or to a safe third country like Rwanda. It’s the only way to prevent people risking their lives and paying criminals thousands of pounds to get here.”