The government’s New Plan for Immigration is gathering pace, setting out radical changes to the asylum system, with the new nationality and borders bill having entered Parliament on July 6th. Freedom of movement has already ended with the EU and a points-based immigration system introduced, with the aim being to attract the best and brightest from around the world. And this new bill now intends to tackle the issue of illegal immigration.
The new legislation intends to protect those people most in need, while preventing abuse of the system as a whole. If approved, the bill will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK without having permission to be here.
Other measures include making efforts to remove people who enter illegally having already travelled through a safe country where they could and should have claimed asylum, making it easier to remove people to safe countries while asylum claims are being processed and increasing the punishment for people smugglers facilitating illegal entry, facing up to life imprisonment. Home secretary Priti Patel said: “This legislation delivers on what the British people have voted for time and time again - for the UK to take full control of its borders.
“It paves the way for a fair but firm system that will break the business model of the gangs that facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys to the UK while speeding up the removal of those with no right to be here.”
If you currently need the help of a barrister to make applications for work visas, leave to remain applications, citizenship or asylum, get in touch with immigration barristers Hill House Chambers. If your application fails, we can also undertake appeal work in the lower tribunal, as well as further appeals in the court of appeal of judicial review.