Our work
The Refugee Ban Bill
On Tuesday 7th March 2023, the Home Secretary introduced a new Bill, which has now passed into law and is officially called the “Illegal Migration Act”. Organisations and people across the UK referred to it as “the Refugee Ban Bill” or the "Anti-Refugee Bill".
The Act puts a duty on the Home Secretary to arrange the removal of people who come to the UK without permission if they have not arrived directly from a country where their life and liberty is at risk. If they make an asylum claim, it will be declared “inadmissible” – so it won’t be heard – and there is no right to appeal.
At BIHR, we have serious human rights concerns about the removal of vital human rights protections for people.
Our resources
Ahead of the Second Reading of the Refugee Ban Bill, we created a "cheat sheet" to explain some of our initial concerns about the Bill and its implications for people's human rights.
However, with just three working days between the Bill being published and the Second Reading, it was impossible to analyse all the human rights concerns. We'll be updating this page with further information as the Bill progresses.
Related information
Find out more about the Human Rights Act, the European Convention on Human Rights and migrant and refugee rights.
The UK-Rwanda Asylum Agreement
People seeking asylum argued that sending them to Rwanda to have their cases heard risked breaching their right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment.
The UK-Rwanda Asylum Agreement
People seeking asylum argued that sending them to Rwanda to have their cases heard risked breaching their right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment.
One Year of the RITES Committee
Read about our parliamentary event to mark one year of our RITES Committee - a coalition of lived experience experts advocating for the Human Rights Act.
One Year of the RITES Committee
Read about our parliamentary event to mark one year of our RITES Committee - a coalition of lived experience experts advocating for the Human Rights Act.
All About the European Convention on Human Rights
What is the European Convention on Human Rights? What does it mean for the UK? Find out about the ECHR and how it protects all our human rights in our plain-language and Easy Read explainers.
All About the European Convention on Human Rights
What is the European Convention on Human Rights? What does it mean for the UK? Find out about the ECHR and how it protects all our human rights in our plain-language and Easy Read explainers.
Illegal Migration Bill in the House of Lords: 10-05-23
Read our recap of the Second Reading of the Refugee Ban Bill in the House of Lords, focusing on issues raised around human rights, international obligations and rule of law.
Illegal Migration Bill in the House of Lords: 10-05-23
Read our recap of the Second Reading of the Refugee Ban Bill in the House of Lords, focusing on issues raised around human rights, international obligations and rule of law.
Rolling Back on Rights: The Refugee Ban Bill & Rights Removal Bill
This blog looks at some of the ways these Bills attempt to limit government accountability and roll back on our legally protected rights.
Rolling Back on Rights: The Refugee Ban Bill & Rights Removal Bill
This blog looks at some of the ways these Bills attempt to limit government accountability and roll back on our legally protected rights.
Migration & Refugee Rights
The Human Rights Act protects everyone in the UK and has important relevance to migrants and people seeking asylum.
Migration & Refugee Rights
The Human Rights Act protects everyone in the UK and has important relevance to migrants and people seeking asylum.
Migration & Refugee Rights Duties
Find out which human rights often come up when working with migrants, people seeking asylum and refugees in the UK.
Migration & Refugee Rights Duties
Find out which human rights often come up when working with migrants, people seeking asylum and refugees in the UK.
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