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Those who come from the sea are treated even harder than before. The only question is whether the latest plan can work.
The English Channel between France and Great Britain is one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. Despite this, more than 45,000 men, women and children crossed the canal last year alone. They come from Albania, Afghanistan or Syria and hope for a safer and better life in Great Britain.
Neither wind, weather nor laws stop them. In the first few months of this year alone, 3,000 boat migrants were stranded on the southern English coast.
Many ideas – but not realizable
The small boats have been a thorn in the side of the conservative government and its electorate for years. The government was not really short of ideas on how to stop immigration. On the other hand, there are practical implementation proposals.
Pushing the boats back into French waters proved to be a violation of international maritime law. The plan to accommodate illegal immigrants on discarded oil platforms soon had to be scrapped.
Now the British Home Secretary Suella Braverman has made a new attempt. Because the boats would only stay away when the whole world knew that illegal migrants were being arrested and deported, she said.
Arrested and deported immediately
Therefore: Anyone stranded illegally on the southern English coast should be detained and deported after 28 days at the latest – either back home or to a safe third country.
There are plans to fly migrants to the East African country of Rwanda again – despite concerns from human rights organizations and pending court cases. In addition, people who come to the UK illegally will in future be denied the right to apply for British citizenship.
Refugee agencies describe the law as draconian. Deterrence, however, is precisely the aim of the new template. In addition, she is popular. A recent survey shows that a good half of the British population welcomes tightening of immigration laws.
Deportation is often not even possible
However, popular does not mean practical. Even conservative politicians have their concerns. It’s no use writing new and stricter laws if they can’t be implemented, some say.
After all, migrants can only be deported if other countries take them in – be it their home countries or the countries from which they came.
This requires an agreement. This is exactly what optimistic conservative voters are hoping for from their Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he visits President Emmanuel Macron in Paris next Friday.