We’ll end loopholes that let migrants stay, says Suella Braverman

Liz Truss questioned on Rwanda policy for refugees

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Around 80 per cent of arrivals claim they are victims of modern slavery, exploiting the legislation to avoid deportation.

And it is taking almost two years to process the claims, meaning officials are unable to deport illegal migrants.

The Home Secretary wants to ensure the Rwanda plan is viable to create a deterrent effect. Ms Braverman could also increase the threshold which qualifies someone as a modern slave.

She said: “Unfortunately, it’s a really low bar that you have to cross to be considered to be a victim of modern slavery, that is what is gumming up the system.

“And what’s even worse about modern slavery, and the way it’s being applied at the moment, is that we’re getting some egregious cases.

“We are getting instances where convicted paedophiles, convicted drug dealers, convicted murderers, who served their sentences in English jails – at the end of their sentence, we want to deport them because they are considered to be foreign national offenders. What do they do? They claim modern slavery.”

Ms Braverman said London and Paris could also reset their relationship after years of tension. She said: “We do have a common and shared mission.”

The Government’s main route to deter illegal migrants is through the threat of deportation to Rwanda. But the first flight to the central African country was grounded after judges in Strasbourg intervened.

Ms Braverman said: “We really need to review and look at our relationship with Strasbourg.”

“And a decision taken… where there was no UK representation, behind closed doors, and in a very mysterious way, frankly.”

Ms Braverman added: “There’s a crisis on the Channel and it’s been going on for far too long. There have been huge attempts to try to stop the problem and I feel we are at a stage now where we need to take dramatic action.”

She said the Modern Slavery Act is being abused.

Ms Braverman added: “Now what we are seeing is a majority of people coming here from Albania – some 80 percent – who are coming across on small boats are claiming to be victims of modern slavery.

“That’s regardless of the fact that they may have paid tens of thousands of pounds for the privilege of being a so-called modern slave.”

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