Labour authorities to disclaim UK citizenship to small boat refugees | EUROtoday

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The Home Office has toughened up current steering to make it almost not possible for refugees to change into British residents in the event that they journey to the UK by small boat.

The transfer has sparked outcry from Labour MPs and refugee charities, who urged the federal government to rethink.

On Monday, the division up to date steering for employees assessing refugees so it now says candidates who’ve “made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship”.

Under the earlier steering, refugees who arrived within the UK by irregular routes could be required to attend ten years earlier than being thought-about for citizenship.

The Refugee Council, who estimates the replace will stop over 70,000 refugees from acquiring British citizenship, mentioned the transfer “flies in the face of reason”.

The clarification to case employee steering used for assessing if a claimant is of “good character’ reads: “Any particular person making use of for citizenship from 10 February 2025, who beforehand entered the UK illegally will usually be refused, whatever the time that has handed because the unlawful entry passed off.”

Another new entry to the same guidance says: “An individual who applies for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who has beforehand arrived with no required legitimate entry clearance or digital journey authorisation, having made a harmful journey will usually be refused citizenship.

“A dangerous journey includes, but is not limited to, travelling by small boat or concealed in a vehicle or other conveyance.”

Labour MP Nadia Whittome accused the federal government of constant the “performative cruelty we saw from the Conservatives”.

“What’s the point in refusing citizenship to refugees who have ‘made a dangerous journey’? What’s the point in publishing footage of people being deported? I’m sorry to say that this is simply a continuation of the performative cruelty we saw from the Conservatives”, she posted to social media.

Meanwhile, Stella Creasy posted to X: “This should be changed asap. If we give someone refugee status, it can’t be right to then refuse them [a] route to become a British citizen.

“You can refuse to give asylum as we all know happens but this isn’t that. This is refusing citizenship to someone who has permission to stay indefinitely because of risk of harm. They aren’t ‘awful’. They are stateless and if this not reconsidered voiceless.”

She added: “Frankly, this process would deny Paddington Bear – he did the same thing, he came by an irregular route but we gave him sanctuary.”

In the 1958 kids’s story, Paddington arrives as a stowaway from “Darkest Peru”, despatched by his Aunt Lucy, one in every of solely handful of family members other than an uncle who has gone to stay in a “home for retired bears.” Author Michael Bond mentioned he was impressed by Jewish kids arriving in Britain after fleeing Nazi persecution in WW2.

It got here because the Tories claimed Labour are “dancing to our tune” on migration.

Shadow residence secretary Chris Philp mentioned: “Just days in the past, Labour claimed adjustments to frame guidelines had been ‘unworkable’. But now they’re dancing to our tune with a change in place they’ve been pressured into.”

Meanwhile, Enver Solomon, the chief government of the Refugee Council, mentioned: “The British public want refugees who have been given safety in our country to integrate into and contribute to their new communities.

“So many refugees over many generations have become proud hard-working British citizens as doctors, entrepreneurs and other professionals. Becoming a British citizen has helped them give back to their communities and this should be celebrated, not prevented.”

Kolbassia Haoussou, director of survivor management and influencing at Freedom from Torture, described the transfer as a “dark moment in British history”.

“If the government really follows through with blocking refugees from getting citizenship, the UK will be taking a huge step backwards.

“Everyone deserves the chance to settle and fully integrate into society.”

“This latest decision is both profoundly disappointing and deeply damaging to the moral and cultural fabric of this country. We urge the government to immediately reconsider”, he added.

It comes simply days after the Home Office confronted criticism for publishing movies of immigration raids focusing on unlawful staff, with accusations of trying imitate Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

The raids had been publicised as residence secretary Yvette Cooper’s landmark Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill returned to parliament for its second studying within the Commons on Monday.

The authorities additionally introduced that hundreds of migrants allegedly working illegally in nail bars, automotive washes and eating places have been arrested as a part of the federal government’s efforts to tighten UK border safety.

Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle mentioned the federal government is solely “enforcing the rules” by publishing the movies, however the Refugee Council accused the federal government of utilizing performative stunts to attempt to promote division.

Dame Angela additionally denied Labour was looking for to repeat Reform and mentioned the federal government was displaying those who “aspire to come to this country illegally” they are going to be caught.

A Home Office spokesperson mentioned: “There are already rules that can prevent those arriving illegally from gaining citizenship.

“This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused.”