Illegal Migration Act

Our key call for change:

• UK Government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act 2023

Background information and introduction to our work

CLCW were very concerned at the outset of the Illegal Migration Bill being introduced and felt the proposed legislation would have a negative impact on Welsh Government and statutory bodies’ ability to abide by Wales’s duties under international human rights law. To ensure that all asylum-seeking children, should be able to enjoy all the rights set out in the UNCRC, and should have the same protection as any other child. The Bill also quite clearly undermines the Nation of Sanctuary approach in Wales. 

Dr Croke gave written evidence on the Illegal Migration Bill submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child via the Wales UNCRC Monitoring Group. We were very pleased to see the strong recommendation from the UN Committee:

Urgently amend the Illegal Migration Bill and to repeal all draft provisions that would have the effect of violating children’s rights under the Convention and the 1951 Refugee Convention and bring the Bill in line with the State party’s obligations under international human rights law.

Dr Croke submitted evidence to Senedd scrutiny committees in relation to the Illegal Migration Bill with her partners at the Bevan Foundation, and the Children’s Society. The evidence can be found here. The evidence was referenced in the Senedd Equality and Social Justice Committee report which can be accessed here.  On June 20th 2023, the Senedd voted to withhold consent to provisions in the Illegal Migration Bill. Unfortunately, the Illegal Migration Act commenced into law in 2023.