Sheffield campaign groups are holding a protest this evening against the Government’s new Illegal Migration Bill.
Activists from Stand up to Racism and Take the Knee will gather in front of the Town Hall at 5.30pm to challenge the bill, which will be read in Parliament today.
The Illegal Migration Bill means anyone who comes to the UK illegally will be unable to claim asylum, access modern slavery protections, or stay in the country.
Yasmin Plews, co-founder of Take the Knee, said: “It is important to challenge these laws, as they are being put through parliament without informing the nation as to how they will plunge thousands of vulnerable people who have escaped war and torture into danger and in some cases, death.”
The government has already found itself in hot water following its announcement of the controversial Migration and Economic Development Partnership, in which Britain agreed a deal to send tens of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Ms Plews said that, if passed, the new bill would mean that refugees seeking asylum will have the internationally recognised human right to travel safely to Britain taken away from them.
She added: “It has already caused far right groups to harass and bully refugees staying in horrible conditions in hotels across the country.”
Groups such as Stand up to Racism and Care4Calais are pushing for a Safe Passage amendment, which would create a visa for safe travel for refugees who have viable asylum claims.
They believe such an amendment would stop people from getting into small boats and risking their lives, get rid of people smugglers’ profits, and keep the UK compliant with its international obligations.
Ms Plews said: “This bill is further proof that this government wants to whip up racist division to scapegoat refugees and immigrants.”
Stand up to Racism has also organised another protest this evening in Parliament Square, London, and campaigners across the UK are hoping to spread their messages that refugees are welcome in the UK and that the Government’s policies do not represent them.
