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The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) has warned against government plans to introduce legislation which would detain and remove people arriving in the UK to claim asylum. The 'Illegal Migration Bill' will criminalise and punish people seeking asylum rather than provide them with sanctuary, the charity states.

The Illegal Migration Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 7 March, will prevent most people in need of sanctuary from claiming asylum in the UK. It also fails to provide safe routes for people seeking protection in the UK.

This Bill, if passed in its current form, will allow the Government to make arrangements for the removal of vulnerable people entering the UK to claim protection from war and persecution. It will also make the provision to hold asylum seekers in immigration removal centres including women and people who experienced torture and sexual violence.

Following the introduction of the Bill, the SVP is urging the Government to create an asylum system which protects those seeking sanctuary and doesn't punish people for seeking a better life.

Pope Francis has called for states to end "the return of migrants to unsafe countries and to give priority to saving lives at sea," something which the SVP strongly endorses, believing people from all countries seeking refuge should be welcomed.

As a Catholic charity that supports refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, the SVP is concerned the new Bill will leave vulnerable people at risk, and if passed in its current form will strip people fleeing war and persecution of their right to seek safety in the UK. The Jesuit Refugee Service has also issued a response to the proposed legislation:

"As with many pieces of recent legislation around immigration, these new measures purport to halt people traffickers who facilitate the channel crossings... Instead of highlighting and tackling the enormous backlog in asylum claims, they divert attention to another 'problem', actually play into the hands of traffickers by making it impossible for their victims to seek help, and show no signs as yet of the necessary safe and legal routes."

You can read more on the JRS website here.

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Sources: Independant Catholic News and JRS.