“Going to the aid of migrants, refugees, displaced people and asylum seekers is not simply almsgiving or an act of kindness but an act of justice. Our solidarity with them comes from the basic belief that we have a duty to share common resources." Bishop Paul McAleenan

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The Illegal Migration Bill will now become law after a series of votes in the House of Lords failed to result in further modern slavery protections and child detention limits. The Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Paul McAleenan (pictured above), says the Catholic Church will continue to ‘love the stranger’ and call for the expansion of safe routes for those fleeing their homes:

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“This legislation stands at odds with the teaching of the Church on welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating refugees. Refugees are human beings made in the image and likeness of God, not a political problem to be solved. We must never make recognition of people’s dignity dependent upon where they come from or how they reach our country. The biblical call to love the stranger is unequivocal and indiscriminate.

“As a Church, we will continue to welcome those seeking sanctuary here and call for the expansion of safe routes. We urge our government to redouble its efforts to tackle factors such as conflict, persecution, and climate change that force people to flee their homes.”

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The United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency and UN Human Rights Office have warned of a profound impact on human rights and the international refugee protection system. A statement in response to the Bill on the UN website said:

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"Most people fleeing war and persecution either do not have or are unable to access formal documents such as passports and visas. Safe and ‘legal’ routes are rarely available to them. The 1951 Refugee Convention, for its part, explicitly recognises that refugees may be compelled to enter a country of asylum irregularly."

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Speaking about the new legislation, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said:

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“For decades, the UK has provided refuge to those in need, in line with its international obligations – a tradition of which it has been rightly proud. This new legislation significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many, exposing refugees to grave risks in breach of international law”.

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You can find out more about the UN’s response here. Commenting on the Bill before it passed into law, CAFOD said:

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"[This Bill] will effectively shut the door on people needing protection, we look to what the Holy Father has taught us about our sisters and brothers seeking sanctuary."

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You can find out more about CAFOD's response to the legislation on the charity's website.

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Sources: CBCEW, The United Nations and CAFOD