The government supports and legal professionals oppose ... a new asylum system for Britain, and these are the most prominent of its amendments

British Home Secretary Priti Patel defends the new asylum system in the country, which is characterized by intense debates in Parliament, and has sparked controversy, even among human rights groups, which warn that the amendments submitted by the Johnson government may violate international law with regard to the protection of refugees.

The British government also defends the amendment, which will be considered the largest in decades, to the asylum system in the country, stressing that it will allow those who deserve asylum to advance the arrangement, and block the way to clandestine immigration networks and human traffickers, but these amendments raise concerns of institutions working in the field of refugee support, especially at the point. Concerning the fate of people arriving via the sea passage from France towards the United Kingdom.

What is new the Home Secretary brings to the asylum system in the United Kingdom, and why does it spark all this controversy among jurists and the UN agencies concerned with the protection of refugees?

Who has the right to asylum?

The Ministry of the Interior says that the people who are entitled to obtain asylum are those coming from war zones and armed conflicts, provided that they submit asylum applications while they are in their own countries, as for those coming from safe destinations, that is, those who will arrive in the United Kingdom, via Europe, then these will be rejected. Their requests can be deported within 24 hours, and this is a moot point, as the government says its aim is to fight human trafficking networks.

As for the legal experts, they argue that this procedure violates international law, which prohibits the deportation of any asylum seeker before deciding on his application, regardless of where he came from.

What if deportation is not possible?

In the event that asylum seekers arrive from Europe, and they come from countries known to have armed conflicts, it is difficult to deport them. Here, the new system talks about limited rights, among which is the temporary protection status, and its file will be re-evaluated periodically. Residency in the country, as this group will have a limited right to family reunification.

Can asylum seekers be returned to Europe?

As for asylum seekers who crossed into Britain from the European Union, especially from France through the sea crossing, it is not legally possible to return them to the Union, since since the kingdom left the European Union, the Dublin Treaty that allowed Britain to send asylum seekers to the European country could no longer be applied. , Which they entered for the first time, but now this agreement is no longer valid for Britain.

Are the amendments in favor of the refugees?

The new amendments seek to reform the appeal procedures for rejection of asylum applications, by speeding up the processing of these files, and speeding up the deportation processes for those whose application is rejected. As for the major advantage provided by the new system, it grants those whose application is approved the right to permanent residence, which is considered the direct gateway. To obtain British citizenship.

What nationalities benefit the most?

According to official statistics, the citizens of 3 Arab countries are among the most benefited from the right to asylum in Britain, which are Iraq, Sudan and Syria, and according to the new system, the Minister of Interior will have the right to provide protection for vulnerable people who face a direct threat in their countries, but this right will be applied. In a limited way.

What are the controversial points?

Among the controversial points in this new reform is that the government is looking for a "third party" to deport the asylum seeker to pending a decision on his file. There is talk currently about a number of islands and destinations, which may become a destination for asylum seekers until their claims are decided upon. The fate of those whose asylum application will be rejected is still unknown, especially those coming from European countries, as it is certain that European countries will refuse to receive them.

Will age play a role in obtaining asylum?

The Ministry of the Interior says that it will adopt stricter criteria in studying the asylum application file, as the asylum seeker will have to prove that his life is in danger in the place where he is, and it will be strict with young people in particular, and the work of some adult immigrants who claim to be children will also be evaluated and studied. The government is using bone scanners to determine age.

Are there penalties?

The government says that the goal of all these changes is to clamp down on clandestine immigration networks, and that is why people smugglers will be sentenced to life imprisonment, and foreign criminals who violate deportation orders and return to the UK may be imprisoned for up to 5 years instead of the currently applied six months.

Why do jurists object?

REFUGEE ACTION, in a statement, says that what the British government is providing will extend the time people wait for asylum and not vice versa, "which increases psychological pressure on asylum seekers," adding that there are real concerns about the fate of people. Those whose requests will be rejected.

From a legal standpoint, many legal experts expect that the plan will violate international law that the UK helped create, which states that we must treat all asylum seekers equally and fairly.

Under Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention, states cannot punish refugees for entering a country illegally, provided they present themselves to the authorities without delay and demonstrate the validity of the reasons for their illegal entry or presence.