Home Office admits evidence that its plans will reduce Channel crossings is ‘limited’

The Home Office has acknowledged that the evidence that its new immigration plans reduce Channel crossings is “limited”.

In an Equality Impact Assessment of the Nationality and Border Bill published Thursday, the department also says the reforms have “significant scope for indirect discrimination” and “the potential for direct discrimination based on race”.

The government’s new plan for immigration, which the Home Office hopes to implement through the bill – which is currently running through parliament – will “rapidly remove asylum seekers arriving in the UK through unauthorized routes”. tries, and provides them only temporary protection. Limited right if he cannot do so immediately.

The assessment, which the department says will “ensure that equivalence is considered at an early stage to inform decision-making regarding policies and operations”, acknowledges that “increased security and deterrence” will help these asylum seekers. May “encourage” those to “attempt to risk”. means of entering the UK”.

It states: “However, the implementation of these measures furthers the legitimate purpose of encouraging asylum seekers to claim a first safe country and not make dangerous journeys by smugglers to the UK, although The evidence supports the effectiveness. This approach is limited.”

The document also acknowledges that the bill has “significant scope for indirect discrimination”, describing it where “a particular protected group is harmed and that harm is not a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate objective”.

In a section on race, it stated that “there is a limited potential for direct discrimination on the basis of race (nationality),” before adding: “We will rely on the limited exceptions present in the 2010 Act, which allow direct discrimination.” on the basis of race, where he is authorized by a minister or by law.”

The department also raises a concern that campaigners have raised in the UK about the lack of safe and legal routes for people who would otherwise be punished for crossing the Channel, stating that “there may be circumstances where a face immediate danger in their country of origin. But not eligible for our refugee resettlement programs.”

It states that the Home Secretary may “consider such matters, depending on their challenging circumstances, to exercise discretion in allowing persons to come into the UK” – although it is not clear under what mechanism this may be through. .

The Home Office claims at the end of the document that the plans will “advance equality of opportunity” for asylum seekers, “in that they can be persuaded not to take these risks”.

It comes after it emerged last week that Priti Patel ordered officials to rewrite the UK’s interpretation of maritime laws to allow the border force to ply small boats – a tactic mentioned in the bill Is.

France later warned that the channel could become a “theatre of human tragedies” as the country’s interior minister vowed not to cooperate with the controversial plan, sparking a major diplomatic row.

The Home Office stated that its new plan for immigration “welcomes people through safe and legal routes to prevent abuse of the system, crack down on illegal entry, and discourage people from making dangerous and life-threatening channel crossings.” will do”.

The plans have been widely criticized by NGOs and lawyers in the UK, as well as the UNHCR, warning that they will “harm life” and undermine international cooperation on refugee issues.