UK reveal set of migrants wey dem no go give British citizenship

UK goment don tighten dia rules wey go make am almost impossible for refugees wey land di kontri through small boat to become British citizens.

Inside one new guidance, UK goment say dem go deny citizenship to anybody wey make dangerous journey enta di kontri, either through boat or e hide inside motor, e no mata how long e take dem or how long dem don dey for di kontri.

For one statement, di Home Office tok say di strengthened measures make am clear say dem go refuse di British citizenship application of anybody wey enta UK illegally.

However, di Refugee Council and some Labour MPs – wey include Stella Creasy don condemn dis change. Dem say di change mean say "refugees go forever remain as second class citizens".

Wetin be di new guidance wey deny refugees wey enta UK illegally citizenship

Dem introduce di changes wey Free Movement blog first expose to guidance for visa and immigration staff on Monday, 10 February.

Di changes mean say anybody wey wan enta di kontri illegally – plus di ones wey don already dey dia – no go fit apply for citizenship.

To make am clear to pipo wey dey work for dia office, if dem wan assess if any claimant get "beta character", dem say, "From 10 February, 2025, dem go deny any pesin wey enta UK illegally citizenship, e no mata since di time di illegal entry happun."

Anoda new entry to di same guidance tok say: "Any pesin wey apply for citizenship from 10 February 2025, wey dey live for UK witout required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation, wey follow dangerous journey enta di kontri, normally go dey refused citizenship.

"Dangerous journey include, but no dey limited to, travelling by small boat or e hide for inside vehicle or oda means of transportation."

Bifor now, refugees wey land di kontri by irregular routes go need wait for 10 years, bifor dem go dey consider dem.

Under UK law, e don become offence now to enta di kontri witout permission, while international law hold say make no kontri penalise refugees for illegal entry.

Dis dey come afta Labour Party new border security bill, wey scrap di Conservatives Rwanda plan and boost police powers against pipo smugglers, clear dia first vote for di House of Commons on Monday.

Di Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill roll out Labour plan to treat smugglers wey dey smuggle pipo like terrorists, and create one new crime wey dey put di life of oda pipo at risk during illegal crossing for di Channel.

Di Home Office bin also publish videos of enforcement teams as dem raid 828 premises, including nail bars, car washes, and restaurants, as part of one UK-wide crackdown on illegal working earlier dis week.

Di Refugee Council reason say di guidance go stop at least 71,000 refugees from obtaining British citizenship.

Enver Solomon, CEO of di charity, tok say di goment move "dey fly for di face of reason".

"Di British public wan make refugees wey dem don give safety for our kontri to integrate into and contribute to dia new communities, so e no make any sense for di goment to erect more barriers.

"We know say men, women and children who be refugees wan feel say dem be part of di kontri wey don give dem home, and support to rebuild dia lives.

"We urge ministers to urgently reconsider," Solomon tok.

Meanwhile, immigration barrister Colin Yeo bin claim on social media say na "clear breach of di refugee convention".

Although, di Conservatives neva respond to di goment decision, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch tell BBC last week say she believe say right to citizenship and permanent residency "suppose only go to dose wey don demonstrate real commitment to di UK".

Badenoch bin tok about her proposals to toughen up citizenship rules and make am more difficult for new immigrants to fit permanently settle down for UK.

Di goment go continue to consider citizenship applications on a case-by-case basis, e dey understood.

One Home Office tok-tok pesin say: "Rules already dey to stop dose wey dey come UK illegally from gaining citizenship.

"Dis guidance go further strengthen measures to make am clear say anyone wey enta UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, go dey denied British citizenship application."