Migrant (In)justice

The right to seek asylum in the UK by persons fleeing conflicted zones is threatened by recent changes to immigration laws in the UK. For example, the discriminatory approach adopted by the recent Illegal Migration Act 2023 makes it impossible for certain citizens fleeing conflicted zones to seek asylum here, and other barriers include changes to legal aid for asylum seekers, arbitrary migration targets, and hostile and deterrent immigration policies. By imposing these barriers to seeking asylum, the UK breaches its obligations under international law and fuels migrant injustice. Using a combination of doctrinal, experiential, and practical application, the author of this chapter examines how recent changes to immigration laws have impacted the ability of those fleeing conflicted zones to claim asylum in the UK. He maps the history of UK immigration legislation and examines the barriers to migrant justice, recommending a UK regional approach to governance on asylum issues and a pragmatic and sustainable approach to the treatment of refugees.