MPs rejected a raft of changes to the Government’s asylum reforms voted through by the House of Lords.
It paves the way for the Illegal Migration Bill to become law by the end of next week.
The Bill is a crucial part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to stop the small boats crossing the Channel.
It would place a legal duty on the Government to detain and remove illegal migrants, either to Rwanda or another country.
It originally removed the existing time limits on how long unaccompanied children and pregnant women could be detained, but they were reinstated by peers.
Earlier, Mr Sunak hinted that the Government’s tough stance was starting to have an impact on crossings although he admitted they would soon rise as the weather improves.
Home Office predictions warned as many as 80,000 migrants could cross this year – up from 45,755 in 2022.
Speaking to reporters on his way to the Nato summit, Mr Sunak said: “Numbers have escalated every year.
“The fact that they were down for five months of the year, the fact that they are still down even if it is less, compared to what people were expecting is really a much better result than anyone was expecting.”
The PM said the Court of Appeal judgement on Rwanda, which ruled against the Government, had supported the principle of sending migrants to safe countries for their claims to be processed.
READ MORE
Thousands of migrants to avoid deportation to Rwanda after major climbdown[LATEST]
To what number of bodies does Left need to finally help stop people trafficking[NEWS]
Cost of housing migrants could skyrocket to £30m a day by 2026 – Government[FINANCE]
He added: “It was slightly lost on the day, that was an important step forward.” Around 13,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, marginally down from last year.
During a heated Commons debate, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick accused peers of trying to “wreck” asylum reforms.
Stephen Kinnock, the shadow immigration minister, said the plans were “fundamentally flawed” and accused Mr Jenrick of “pettiness” for ordering a Mickey Mouse mural to be painted over in an immigration centre.
Mr Kinnock said the bill would “only make a terrible situation worse” by increasing the asylum backlog.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Suella Braverman [Getty]
With Parliament due to break for summer at the end of next week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the proposals would help the “crucial” new law pass “swiftly”.
It would also “send a clear message that the exploitation of children and vulnerable people, used by criminals and ferried across the Channel, cannot continue,” she added.
The Rwanda policy is heading for a battle in the Supreme Court.
Source: Read Full Article