In this article, I argue that the proposed Illegal Migration Bill by the UK government perpetuates harmful myths about migrants, fuels far-right extremism, and reinforces violence against them. The bill seeks to deny asylum claims from those arriving in the UK on small boats and would require their immediate removal to Rwanda or a “safe third country.” This policy is not only inhumane and cruel, but also ineffective as it fails to address the underlying causes of migration. The government’s attempts to circumvent legal blocks on its deportation policy through the use of a “rights brake” demonstrate its complete disregard for human rights and the rule of law. I call for building stronger communities, workplaces, and valuing justice, equality, and solidarity for all, rejecting the toxic government’s far-right extremism and its hateful rhetoric.
In this article, I look at and argue against the UK government’s latest announcement to curb small boat arrivals and limit asylum seeker rights, which I believe is a move towards authoritarianism and a violation of international human rights law. The government’s illegal migration bill seeks to detain and remove nearly all those who arrive “irregularly” and criminalise those seeking safety from persecution and violence. These harsh restrictions on the rights of refugees and migrants, coupled with the criminalisation and detention of innocent people, echoes the tactics employed by fascist regimes of the past and reflects the government’s disregard for basic principles of justice and fairness.
I argue in this article that the UK government’s relentless drive to legislate harder on migrants can be traced back to their commitment to an exclusionary and nationalist agenda, which has become much more prevalent since the Brexit vote. The government’s policies are indicative of a larger trend of growing xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe and the US, amplified by the widespread use of right-wing rhetoric across the media landscape. The government’s actions today can be viewed as a cynical attempt to divert attention away from deeper structural issues, such as economic inequality, the cost-of-living crisis, and austerity, that are the real causes of social problems. The UK government’s plan to disqualify asylum claims en-masse, regardless of their merit, has drawn fierce condemnation from human rights experts. Drawing from Faulkner and Hearse’s theory of creeping fascism and William I. Robinson’s theory of a global police state, I warn of the dangers of the erosion of democratic rights and social justice. I urge the need for active resistance and opposition, building a strong anti-capitalist movement to challenge the forces of fascism and nationalism and stand up for the most vulnerable members of society.
The image below really says it all,
“There is something wrong with a regime that requires a pyramid of corpses every few years.”
George Orwell
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