new immigration law violates international law, says UN

The text plans to prevent migrants who have arrived in the United Kingdom illegally from seeking asylum in the country. But the new British immigration law is contrary to international law, the UN denounced on Tuesday July 18. According to the heads of the UN agencies in charge of human rights and refugees, respectively Volker Türk and Filippo Grandi, the law will “profound consequences for people in need of international protection”. In particular, they consider that it “creates very broad new powers of detention, with limited judicial review”.

The United Nations fears that thousands of people will remain in the UK indefinitely in precarious legal situations. “For decades, the UK has provided refuge to those in need, in line with its international obligations” but this new law “significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many people, putting refugees at grave risk”said Filippo Grandi.

This law, adopted by the British Parliament overnight from Monday to Tuesday, is a key step for Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has made it a priority to fight against illegal immigration. The text still has to be validated by King Charles III.