'We must stop the boats,' UK home secretary says ahead of statement on new bill

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – British Home Secretary Suella Braverman said a new bill that will be brought to the House of Commons on Tuesday will “stop the boats” carrying migrants across the Channel.

Speaking to The Telegraph, ahead of her statement in parliament, Braverman said: “We must stop the boats and that’s what our Bill will do. No more sticking plasters or shying away from the difficult decisions.”

Braverman’s remarks came on the day she will reveal the details of the new legislation, which will make possible to detain migrants arriving illegally and deport them to their home country or to Rwanda until their asylum claims are processed -- a plan rejected by human rights groups.

“Myself and the Prime Minister [Rishi Sunak] have been working tirelessly to ensure we have a Bill that works; we’ve pushed the boundaries of international law to solve this crisis…If you come here illegally it must be that you cannot stay,” Braverman said, responding to those questioning the legality of the new bill in terms of international law.

Prime Minister Sunak spoke to Rwandan President Paul Kagame Monday night ahead of the announcements, in a sign of the prime minister’s continued commitment to the Rwanda deportation policy, according to The Telegraph.

Sunak had said in December that he would press on with the controversial Rwanda plan, a few months after the initial flights to take asylum seekers to the African country to apply for British asylum there were stopped by legal representatives through legal channels.

British High Court ruled in December last year that the government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda are lawful.

Braverman's statement is expected to be coming to the House of Commons Tuesday afternoon.