The Labour government’s new immigration bill: A new bill, but the same old approach

The Labour government has introduced the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, claiming it will strengthen border security and dismantle criminal networks exploiting vulnerable migrants. At first glance, this might sound reasonable—but scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear that this bill continues the same harmful approach to migration that treats people as threats rather than as human beings.

At Seraphus, we believe in putting humanity back into immigration law. We advocate for an approach grounded in justice, rights, and the fundamental truth that migration is part of human nature. This commitment is even more crucial in an era where political discourse is increasingly shifting to the right on this issue. Every person on the move has a story, a reason for leaving their home, and an undeniable right to dignity and fair treatment. This new bill as many of its predecessors, however, pushes a hostile narrative about migrants in the UK, rather than recognising their humanity.

Rather than addressing the reasons people migrate or creating meaningful solutions, this Bill doubles down on punishment. It expands detention powers, allowing for individuals to be held even before deportation orders are in place, prolonging an inhumane system where people can be detained indefinitely with no set release date. The UK is one of the few countries in Europe that does not impose a time limit on immigration detention, meaning people seeking safety can be trapped in limbo for months or even years.

This bill also grants law enforcement agencies greater powers to  search, seize and retain personal devices from migrants, extending the surveillance state at the UK’s borders. Such measures mirror counter-terror legislation and contribute to the alarming criminalisation of people seeking safety. The ability to copy and retain sensitive personal data not only violates privacy but creates a dangerous precedent where racialised communities are disproportionately targeted.

The government claims that increasing law enforcement powers will deter people from attempting dangerous crossings. In reality, greater policing does not stop migration; it only makes journeys more dangerous and drives people further into the hands of exploitative networks. The bill expands Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs), which severely restrict individuals’ freedoms based on suspicion rather than evidence, adding another tool to criminalise migrants and those who assist them.

The measures also risk targeting those organisations, charities, and even ordinary people offering aid to those in need. Although the bill includes exclusions from prosecution for those assisting migrants, by creating new offences for supplying items that might be used in an attempted crossing, the bill casts a wide net over those simply trying to prevent further harm through fear and uncertainty. The effect of these provisions could stop essential lifesaving work and push people into even more desperate situations.

The bill promises to “strengthen” the asylum system, yet its focus is on removal and restriction rather than fair and efficient decision-making. The repeal of the Rwanda deportation scheme acknowledges its failure and is a much-welcomed step, but instead of replacing it with a system that upholds rights and ensures timely, just asylum decisions, the government is introducing more surveillance and enforcement measures that will not stop, reduce, or deter people seeking international protection. 

It is a big disappointment that this legislation includes the ban on migrants who enter the UK irregularly from claiming protection under the Modern Slavery act 2015. This ban which is carried over from the last government, prevents migrants from accessing the national referral mechanism (NRM) which is set up to support and identify victims of modern slavery. 

Our asylum system needs genuine reform—clearer pathways, faster processing, and more humane accommodation options. It does not need more barriers, punitive measures, or rhetoric that treats those seeking safety as criminals.

The government justifies this bill by claiming it is necessary to “protect the integrity of the UK border.” But borders are not just lines on a map—they are crossed every day by people seeking work, education, and safety. Migration has always been a part of human history, and it has enriched our society in countless ways.

At Seraphus, we stand for a system that recognises the humanity of migrants, upholds their rights, and ensures that those seeking sanctuary are treated with fairness and compassion. This bill continues to entrench a hostile environment rather than build a fair and functioning system.

We urge policymakers to take a different approach—one that prioritises safe routes for all, efficient asylum processing, and, above all, the humanity of those who seek to make the UK their home.