Border bill will “bring clarity to the law, and order to the asylum system”, says IPPR

Responding to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill introduced to Parliament today, Marley Morris, associate director for migration at IPPR, said:

“Today’s borders bill signals the end of the previous government’s Rwanda plan, which ultimately proved to be unaffordable, unlawful and unworkable.

“The new government’s legislation repeals the Safety of Rwanda Act and much of the Illegal Migration Act - policies which in practice led to a pause in Home Office decision-making, adding to the backlog and the spiralling costs of asylum accommodation. Scrapping this legislation will help to bring clarity to the law, and order to the asylum system.

“Today’s bill focuses on a series of operational measures to tackle people smuggling in the Channel, including through the government’s new Border Security Command. But to address the small boats crisis, the government will also need to collaborate closely with our European partners on asylum, provide alternative safe routes to divert people away from dangerous sea crossings, and improve decision-making to bring down the backlog and speed up the process.”