{"id":616388,"date":"2022-04-21T14:54:25","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T14:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1583566"},"modified":"2022-04-21T14:54:25","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T14:54:25","slug":"heres-what-you-can-do-to-oppose-anti-refugee-government-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/04\/21\/heres-what-you-can-do-to-oppose-anti-refugee-government-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s what you can do to oppose anti-refugee government plans"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As reported by The Canary<\/a> <\/em>on 14 April, the government has announced plans to process and detain asylum seekers in Rwanda. In spite of questions surrounding the legality<\/a> of the offshoring plan, prime minister Boris Johnson maintains that the government can implement it using existing legislation.<\/p>\n

This comes as part of the Tories’ Nationality and Borders Bill<\/a>\u00a0which – if passed unamended – would empower the Home Office to revoke the British citizenship of anyone who can claim citizenship in another country.<\/p>\n

In spite of widespread resistance<\/a> to the inhumane plans, MPs voted<\/a> against a House of Lords amendment that would force the government to pass any offshore detention plans through parliament at a House of Commons debate on 20 April. The bill will return to the House of Lords<\/a> on 26 April.<\/p>\n

Now is the time to resist this draconian anti-refugee bill.<\/p>\n

A racist and inhumane policy<\/h2>\n

In July 2021, the UK’s international ambassador for human rights raised concerns about Rwanda’s failure<\/span><\/p>\n

“to conduct transparent, credible and independent investigations into allegations of <\/span>human rights violations<\/span><\/span><\/a> including deaths in custody and torture.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Stephanie Boyce, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, has questioned whether Patel’s offshore processing and detention plan complies with Britain’s human rights obligations under international law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More than 160 charities and campaign groups have signed an open letter urging the government to u-turn on its “shamefully cruel<\/a>” plan.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Guardian<\/em> has reported that civil servants working in the Home Office may resist the unconscionable policy<\/a>\u00a0on ethical grounds.<\/p>\n

In spite of opposition<\/a> to the policy, on 20 April\u00a0MPs voted 303:234<\/a> against a proposed amendment that would require MPs and Lords to approve any offshore processing and detention plans. This amendment included requirements for home secretary Priti Patel to present the details and costs of her offshore detention plans before she can enforce them.<\/p>\n

Shocked by the vote’s outcome, Independent<\/i>\u00a0home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden tweeted:<\/p>\n

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Incredible scenes in the House of Commons tonight, as Conservative MPs voted against giving themselves the right to scrutinise asylum offshoring deals and see cost breakdowns before they are struck <\/p>\n

The govt won all votes against Lords amendmentshttps:\/\/t.co\/dmQueRAI6J<\/a><\/p>\n

— Lizzie Dearden (@lizziedearden) April 20, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n