Human rights organizations caution that survivors of trafficking could face repercussions if the latest asylum legislation proposed by Shabana Mahmood is enacted. Critics are expressing anger at the plan put forth by the Home Secretary to eliminate the legal obligation for identified victims to stay in the UK during their recovery process. The Immigration and Asylum Bill, to be presented to Members of Parliament on Monday, is promised to bring about significant changes to the asylum system.
Included in the bill are provisions to remove judges’ authority in removal appeals and introduce a means-tested fee of £10,000 for successful asylum applicants. The Home Secretary advocates for the removal of the government’s responsibility to grant permission to stay for confirmed trafficking victims if their presence is deemed necessary for recovery support.
While she argues that the current law is frequently exploited through loopholes, charities are urging Parliament to oppose the bill. Kamena Dorling, the policy director at the Helen Bamber Foundation, emphasized concerns over the potential impact of removing this protection on trafficking survivors. Dorling stressed that denying this safeguard would leave vulnerable individuals in a state of uncertainty, hindering their recovery and subjecting them to the threat of detention, deportation, or homelessness.
The proposal has raised alarms among organizations such as Anti-Slavery International, the Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU), and ECPAT UK. Responding to the criticism, a Home Office spokesperson stated that the Immigration and Asylum Bill aims to reform human rights laws to uphold protection for those in need while combatting asylum system abuse. The spokesperson also highlighted upcoming initiatives to establish safe pathways for refugees and enhance safeguards for victims, particularly children, of such crimes.
Shabana Mahmood outlined her vision for the asylum system, emphasizing the need for fairness, control, and prevention of exploitation. She pledged to create new legal avenues for legitimate refugees while closing existing loopholes prone to misuse, with the overarching goal of ensuring a sustainable asylum system for future generations.