UK Home Secretary set to announce ban on migrants claiming asylum after Channel crossings

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman will announce a law on Tuesday that would ban claiming asylum for migrants who cross the English Channel, The Times reported.

Suella, in her speech to the Conservative Party conference, will set out proposals for a bill on illegal immigration that goes further than existing legislation, the report said, adding that the law is designed to create a blanket ban on anyone who enters the UK illegally, including by small boat across the Channel, from claiming refuge.

Suella Braverman was appointed when Liz Truss became prime minister at the beginning of September, taking over from controversial Home Secretary Priti Patel. 

She said that the numbers of people crossing the channel in small boats is "out of control," reported The Sun on Sunday.  

"There have been huge attempts to try and stop the problem and I feel that we are at a stage now where we need to take dramatic action," she added. 

The number of migrants crossing the Channel from France has surged this year. Many of those on the small boats are from the Middle East. 

Rather than offering safe, legal routes for people to claim asylum in the UK - which is only available in limited cases such as Ukraine - many are forced to undertake the perilous journey in order to reach safety.