Ripon charity warns proposed law change could criminalise Afghan refugees
The Nationalities and Borders Bill will make it more difficult for refugees to get asylum in the UK
Last updated 2nd Sep 2021
A Ripon charity has warned thousands of refugees - like those coming from Afghanistan - could be treated as criminals due to a potential change in the law.
The Nationality and Borders Bill is part of the government’s new plan for immigration to fix what it calls the "broken asylum system".
It has three key objectives: to make the system fairer and more effective, to deter illegal entry into the UK breaking the business model of criminal trafficking networks and to remove from the UK those with no right to be here.
People would only be granted asylum into the country if they're accepted onto the government resettlement scheme.
But Ripon City of Sanctuary, who have provided refuge and support to several Syrian families, claim the new bill would "criminalise vulnerable and innocent people" seeking refuge and put thousands of refugees on a waiting list for the resettlement scheme.
Nicola David, chair, said: "It will prevent people from coming here, even with the sort of claims that would send them sailing through the system like those escaping Afghanistan. They just won't be able to come.
"It's going to be horrendous and all we will take is resettled refugees which is a very small number of people who are already living in safe countries, not those trying to escape war-torn countries.
"People have obviously got very warm hearts and are concerned about Afghanistan but come the spring if this Bill passes no independent refugee will be able to flee any war zone or conflict and come into the UK. That's not reflecting British values and the majority of British attitudes.
"All the Bill will allow us to do is to accept people onto these resettlement schemes but the number of people who get offered this is very minimal. Some people can wait up to ten years for it and there is no choice about who you come with so you can't bring your brother or your uncle
"We have the kind of values where we want to welcome people who are the most vulnerable in the world, have been through torture and need help. It essentially means those who come here not on the resettlement scheme will be criminalised, detained and then deported."
A spokesperson for the Refugee Council said: "It is both harsh and unrealistic to suggest that a refugee who arrives irregularly (e.g. without a valid visa) should be accorded fewer rights. Anyone can recognise that people fleeing danger and dictatorship will not be in a position to apply for permission to travel to the UK and they will not be deterred from making that journey.
"Not only would that be a denial of our basic human obligations, it would signal to other countries that they can do the same, undermining the very concept of asylum.
"There was ongoing unease about criminalising those who enter the UK irregularly, for the purpose of seeking asylum. The proposed four-year prison sentence in such circumstances is cruel and authoritarian, but would also cost the UK hundreds of millions more than the current asylum system.
"We should not forgot the shocking scenes of children separated from their parents at the American border when Donald Trump followed his own similar plan. At that time – only three years ago – the UK condemned the policy. Now it is pursuing one that would have similar consequences."
The Nationality and Borders Bill was debated at second reading on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 July 2021 and has now been sent to a Public Bill Committee which will scrutinise the Bill line by line and is expected to report to the House by Thursday 4 November 2021.
You can find out more about the Bill and how to support Ripon City of Sanctuary here