A new law set to go before Parliament later will introduce new measures aimed at removing migrants entering the UK on small boats.
The Illegal Migration Bill is set to prevent those arriving illegally from claiming asylum, and will block them from returning or seeking citizenship.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “fair for those at home and those who have a legitimate claim to asylum”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has described the plans as “unworkable”.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the bill would push “the boundaries of international law” without breaking it – telling the Express the measures were needed to “solve this crisis”.
The government believes the issue of migrant crossings matters to voters and will be key at the next election, and ministers are prepared to test legal limits to address it.
The PM has made tackling it one of the central pledges of his premiership.
There are also clear political messages being raised, with Ms Braverman accusing Labour of “betraying hard working Brits” by not backing the plans.
More than 45,000 people entered the UK via Channel crossings last year, up from around 300 in 2018. (BBC)