British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned that anyone entering the country illegally will be prevented from staying, ahead of new legislation expected to be introduced in the coming days. In an interview published by the "Mail on Sunday" newspaper, Sunak made stopping small boats one of his top five priorities, following pressure from members of Parliament from his party to find a solution to the influx of migrants crossing the English Channel from Europe to the UK.
He stated, "Make no mistake... if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay." The newspaper reported that a new law addressing the issue is set to be presented on Tuesday. Over 45,000 people undertook this perilous journey to reach the UK last year. Last year, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson approved an agreement to send tens of thousands of migrants to Rwanda, located over 6,400 kilometers away. Many of these migrants came from Afghanistan, Syria, or other war-torn countries.
That policy faced legal battles, and the first airborne deportation was halted at the last minute due to a court order from the European Court of Human Rights. The High Court in London ruled the policy lawful in December, but opponents are seeking to appeal that ruling. When asked by Chris Heaton-Harris, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, on Sky News if those arriving in the UK illegally would be able to apply for asylum, he responded, "Yes... I think so." He added, "If people come to this country illegally, they will be sent back or sent to somewhere like Rwanda." When asked how legitimate asylum seekers could obtain it, Heaton-Harris replied, "I am very confident there are safer and more legitimate routes."
