UK Home Secretary Priti Patel [Photo: BBC]
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel now says people entering the UK illegally to claim asylum will no longer have the same entitlements as those arriving legally.
Under the new immigration plan, Ms Patel says that those arriving legally will immediately be given the right to remain in the UK indefinitely. According to Ms Patel, the plans are aimed at stopping criminal gangs and the system will make it harder for people to stay if they arrive via illegal routes.
She said, “If people arrive illegally, they will no longer have the same entitlements as those who arrive legally, and it will be harder for them to stay.”
According to the new plans, anyone paying the criminal gangs to bring them to the UK will be allowed in the country temporarily and receive regular assessment for removal from the UK.
She added, “I make no apology for these actions being firm, but as they will also save lives and target people smugglers, they are also undeniably fair.”
The Home Office added that asylum seekers fleeing violence or persecution from countries such as Syria and Iran will straight away get permission to remain in the UK indefinitely, only if they come to the UK via legal resettlement.
Ms Patel said, “I make no apology for these actions being firm, but as they will also save lives and target people smugglers, they are also undeniably fair,”
According to the current situation, they have to wait for five years after being granted refugee status to apply for this.
In the year ending March 2020, there were 35,099 asylum claims in the UK with Albania, Iran and Iraq providing the most applicants. Ms Patel will is set to give out more details on the New Plan for Immigration.