Statement on the passing of the Illegal Migration Bill, 18 July 2023

Commenting on the passage of the UK Government’s Illegal Migration Bill through Parliament last night, Sophie McCann, Migration Advocacy Adviser at Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) UK said: 

“This legislation ushers in cruel and dangerous policies and will only put more lives at risk - forcing men, women and children to take even more dangerous journeys to seek safety in the UK. 

“MSF medical teams have seen the harm and misery that similar hostile migration policies have caused - from the Greek islands to the Australian Government’s ‘offshore processing’ facilities. 

“This Bill, modelled on some of the world’s most harmful migration policies, will lead to a medical and humanitarian disaster.  

“The UK Government must abandon this pointlessly cruel approach and instead implement an asylum system where compassion and humanity are at the forefront. This means accessible safe routes available for people of all nationalities to the UK, quick and fair asylum processes and safe and dignified housing to ensure no one is left behind.