by The government is due to announce new powers to combat small boat crossings in the English Channel early next week.
The law, promised as part of the government’s effort to tackle illegal migration, could come as soon as Tuesday, as Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the only way to get into the UK was a “safe and legal route”.
The legislation is expected to make asylum claims from people traveling to the UK on small boats unlawful.
It would put a duty on the Home Secretary to deport anyone arriving in a small boat to Rwanda or a “safe third country” “as soon as possible.”
Arriving will also be prevented from applying for asylum during their stay in the UK, and there are also plans to ban them from returning once they have been deported.
Activists have already opposed the “vindictive” proposals.
The bill will be published on Tuesday, according to The Sun on Sunday.
Ms Braverman told the newspaper: “Enough is enough. The British people want this to be resolved.
“They are tired of talking tough and acting inadequately. We have to stop the boats.
“Therefore, I and the Prime Minister have been working flat out to come up with necessary and effective legislation that will address this issue once and for all.
“It must be that if you come here illegally, you will be arrested and quickly deported.
“Our laws will be simple in intent and practice – the only way into Britain will be a safe and legal way.”
It must be that if you come here illegally, you will be arrested and quickly deported
Home Secretary Suella Braverman
The Prime Minister has made “stopping the boats” one of his top five priorities, while Ms Braverman has repeatedly promised to take a hard line on illegal migration and Channel crossings.
But the government’s plans have also drawn criticism from activists, including with concerns about whether some of the policies are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Rwanda program has also been mired in legal challenges, and so far no flights carrying migrants have taken off for the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
The latest figures from the Home Office show that 2,950 migrants have already crossed the English Channel this year.
Mr. Sunak has been under considerable pressure from his own backbenches to crack down on illegal migration.
Downing Street has said the legislation will come in due course.
Critics have expressed concern about the plans.
This legislation will do nothing to reduce the number of deaths in the English Channel or the chaos and incompetence that plague our asylum system
Sonya Sceats, Freedom from Torture
Christina Marriott, Red Cross executive director of strategy, called it “extremely worrying.”
“The Interior Ministry knows from its own research that this will do little to prevent people from risking their lives to get to safety.
“Again and again we hear from people that they have no prior knowledge of the UK asylum system, so tightening it up is not an effective strategy,” she said.
Freedom from Torture executive director Sonya Sceats called the proposals “vindictive and dysfunctional”.
“This legislation will do nothing to reduce the number of deaths in the English Channel or the chaos and incompetence that plague our asylum system, nor will it guarantee sanctuary to those who need it.
“Instead, it will result in even more torture survivors being unfairly denied protection and potentially deported to Rwanda.”
