Children of illegal migrants face deportation alongside parents
KIDS born in the UK to illegal migrants face being deported with their parents under Shabana Mahmood’s crackdown on the creaking asylum system, reports BritPanorama.
Under the new policy, children whose parents have had their immigration status revoked would also be removed from the country. This measure aims to prevent individuals from attempting to secure residency by having children after arriving in the UK illegally.
A child does not automatically obtain British citizenship by being born in the UK; however, they may become eligible if they have lived in the country for the first ten years of their life. The proposed changes are part of the most significant overhaul of the UK’s asylum system in decades, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeking to address ongoing challenges and restore order to current regulations.
A Home Office policy document stated that these adjustments aim to eliminate what it termed “perverse incentives” associated with having children after illegally entering the country. The government highlighted concerns about families living off state support for extended periods due to the inability to enforce removals under existing laws.
The document also noted, “We do not currently prioritise the return of families. As a result, many families of failed asylum seekers continue to live in this country, receiving free accommodation and financial support for years on end.” It further explained that lax policies could lead some asylum seekers to believe that the benefit of having children outweighs the risks involved.
For example, approximately 700 Albanian families with rejected asylum claims remain in the UK, with removals not being enforced despite Albania’s cooperation with the British government on returns.
In a related announcement, the Home Office revealed plans to offer monetary incentives for families without legal rights to remain in the UK to return to their home countries. If these families decline the offer, authorities may initiate forced returns, even for those with young children.
A consultation is underway regarding the process of deporting entire families, a move that has drawn criticism. Veteran Labour peer Lord Dubs, who immigrated to Britain as a child fleeing the Nazis, condemned the policy, suggesting that it uses “children as a weapon” against families seeking refuge.
He stated on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, “There is a proper case for children, there is a proper case for family reunion when there are children who are on their own. To use children as a weapon as the Home Secretary is doing I think is a shabby thing.”
This development follows recent reports regarding the availability of public records on migrant appeals, removing some of the veil of secrecy surrounding immigration judges’ decisions. This transparency aims to hold the judicial system accountable for its rulings, particularly as some judges have faced criticism for allowing certain foreign criminals to remain in the UK.
Pressure has been mounting for immigration courts to improve transparency around decision-making processes as cases often lack published records that might clarify judicial reasoning. The Home Office’s commitment to improving the asylum and immigration framework aligns with ongoing discussions around the treatment of migrants and the complexities involved in their integration or removal.
Ultimately, these changes reflect a deeply contentious area of policy and public debate, balancing humanitarian concerns with government priorities around immigration control.
The new policy, underpinned by concerns about incentivising illegal residence through family connections, raises significant ethical questions and highlights the ongoing challenges of managing the intersection of migration, human rights, and national policy in the UK.
