U.K Home Secretary, Suella Braverman has called uncontrolled and illegal migration “an existential challenge” for the political and cultural institutions of the west.
Addressing the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank at Washington DC, Braverman, a daughter of migrants, noted that the rate of illegal migration has soared and countries were at risk of being overwhelmed.
She cited, “Illegal migration to the US has in recent years gone from just under 2 million in 2021 to more than 2.8 million this year,”
“Illegal migration is not merely an event-driven, or cyclical problem. It is a permanent and structural challenge for the developed nations in general, and the west in particular …,” she said.
She mentioned a 2021 Gallup poll which “found that 16% of adults worldwide – around 900 million people – would like permanently to leave their own country.”
“Thirty-seven per cent of people living in sub-Saharan Africa – some 481 million people – and 27% of those living in the Middle East and north Africa – around 156 million – say they’d like to migrate, she added.
“If immigration is uncontrolled, it makes it harder for society to adapt and accommodate new cultures and customs, and for communities to meld together.
“Uncontrolled immigration, inadequate integration, and a misguided dogma of multiculturalism have proven a toxic combination for Europe over the last few decades.”
Suella Braverman
Braverman called for an overhaul of the UN Refugee Convention to prevent asylum-seekers traveling through “multiple safe countries … while they pick their preferred destination.”
Braverman noted that Article 1 of the convention defines that the term “refugee” as applying to those who, “owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion” cannot safely reside in the country of their nationality.
“I think most members of the public would recognise those fleeing a real risk of death, torture, oppression or violence, as being in need of protection.
“However, as case law has developed, what we have seen in practice, is an interpretive shift away from “persecution”, in favour of something more akin to a definition of “discrimination” and there has been a similar shift away from a “well-founded fear” toward a “credible” or “plausible fear.”
Suella Braverman
“The practical consequence of which has been to expand the number of those who may qualify for asylum, and to lower the threshold for doing so,” she added.
“Where individuals are being persecuted, it is right that we offer sanctuary.
“But we will not be able to sustain an asylum system if in effect, simply being gay, or a woman, and fearful of discrimination in your country of origin, is sufficient to qualify for protection.”
Suella Braverman
Braverman stressed that Article 31 of the refugee convention makes clear that it is intended to apply to individuals “coming directly from a territory where their life was threatened.”
Moreover, Braverman noted that the status quo, where people are able to travel through multiple safe countries, and even reside in safe countries for years, while they pick their preferred destination to claim asylum, is absurd and unsustainable.
She said such migrants should “cease to be treated as refugees” once they leave the first safe country they come to.
Braverman noted during the question and answer session that the fact that she is a daughter of immigrants, does not mean that she should side with illegal migrants.
Braverman Faces Criticism
A number of officials have criticised Braverman’s statement.
Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s chief executive, called Braverman’s speech “a display of cynicism and xenophobia.”
“The refugee convention is just as relevant today as it was when it was created and verbal assaults from the Home Secretary don’t alter the harsh realities that cause people from countries such as Sudan, Afghanistan and Iran to flee from conflict and persecution.
“What urgently needs to be addressed on the world stage is the glaring inequality of countries sharing responsibility for refugees a matter in which the UK is severely lagging.”
Sacha Deshmukh
“Instead of making inflammatory speeches decrying the rights of people fleeing persecution and tyranny, Suella Braverman should focus on creating a functioning UK asylum system that tackles the massive backlog her policies have created, so as to be able to meet the limited refugee responsibilities that fall to the UK,” Deshmukh added.
Stonewall, which campaigns on behalf of LGBTQ+ people, has described Suella Braverman’s speech as “incredibly concerning”.
David Lammy, the shadow home secretary, has described Suella Braverman’s speech as a “shameful new low.”
Josie Naughton, CEO of Choose Love, which funds refugee charities, said Braverman was the person out of touch.
“It is the Home Secretary, not the global refugee convention, that is out of touch with the modern age.
“In a world marred by conflicts and displacement, more and more people are fleeing war zones and persecution in search of safety. On top of natural disasters, and rising climate concern, we all know that the number of people being displaced will only increase globally.”
Josie Naughton
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