Sign this petition to demand that the Welsh Government and members of Welsh Parliament speak out against the Nationality and Borders Bill, through all legislative, media and diplomatic means possible! 

The Nationality and Borders Bill is a UK Government bill that is an assault on the Welsh Government’s aspiration of becoming a Nation of Sanctuary for those fleeing wars and persecution. This bill is not just an attack on refugee rights, it's an attack on Welsh Democracy.  

We need the Welsh Government and Welsh Parliamentarians to do all they can to push back against this anti-refugee bill from the UK Government!  
 
Why is it important that Wales rejects this bill?  

The Welsh government has committed to becoming a Nation of Sanctuary. This means that the Welsh Government has committed to helping refugees integrate into Welsh society and has aimed for refugees to feel sanctuary in Wales, from day one of arrival. Yet, the UK Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill proposes to do the opposite. The bill is an extension of the hostile environment.  
 
What is in the Nationality and Borders Bill? 

 
This bill will create a two-tier asylum system. It proposes that anyone who arrives in the UK via “irregular” routes (aka on an unexpected boat, lorry, or flight), a safe third country, or delays presenting themselves to authorities will be criminalized and punished. They will receive less support than those that arrive in the UK on the resettlement scheme. This is known as differential treatment’ and undermines the Welsh Government's commitment to refugees. 

This Welsh government has committed to fully integrating refugees into Welsh society. Yet the bill limits these refugees’ right to be reunited with their families here in the UK. This will dramatically undermine their integration. Many refugees will rightly be distressed by being separated from their loved ones. This can prevent them from focusing on activities that are essential to integration like learning English.

This Welsh government has committed to tackling poor mental health within the refugee and asylum seeker community. Yet this bill could introduce a review of asylum claims, for asylum seekers who travel to the UK through a “safe country”, every 30 months, over a 10-year period, with no guarantee of obtaining permanent settlement status. This living in constant uncertainty will likely damage refugees’ mental health.

This Welsh government has committed to preventing refugees from falling into destitution, by providing supportive public services. But the bill proposes that refugees who arrive in the UK irregularly will only have limited access to public funds. This directly conflicts with the Welsh government’s aspiration. The bill will leave them vulnerable to destitution and exploitation.

We call our representatives to stand firm on our commitment to becoming a nation of sanctuary and publicly denounce the Bill, through all legislative, media and diplomatic means possible!