麻豆社

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's new plans to clamp down on migrants arriving by boat have been met with mixed reactions.

Under new legislation, most people arriving from France or another safe country would be denied the right to make an asylum claim - even if they may have a case to do so. People removed from the UK will be blocked from returning or seeking British citizenship in future.

Refugee charities and the opposition Labour Party have called the new plan "unworkable".

The UN refugee agency says that the bill would deny protection to many asylum seekers, breach the UN Refugee Convention, and undermine Britain's humanitarian tradition.

Kevin Saunders, a former chief immigration officer at UK Border Force, says "it will be expensive to set up but if the scheme works then it will be money well spent".

He says migrants "are breaking the law and then expecting to stay here and quite honestly I think that is wrong".

(Photo: UK Prime Minister speaks following the launch of new legislation on migrant channel crossings. Credit:
Reuters)

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