A fierce exchange erupted on GB News as former Conservative MP Tom Hunt and senior political correspondent Nigel Nelson clashed over migrant Channel crossings and deportation policies.
The heated debate saw Hunt demanding that all migrants arriving via small boats should be immediately deported, arguing they are criminals who have broken UK immigration law.
"If someone enters our country illegally, they've broken our immigration law, they're criminals. They should be deported, full stop," Hunt declared.
Nelson strongly disputed this characterisation, insisting that crossing the Channel to claim asylum is "not illegal" under current law.
The heated debate saw Hunt demanding that all migrants arriving via small boats should be immediately deported
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"There's nothing illegal about crossing the Channel in a small boat," Nelson countered, sparking an intense back-and-forth about the legal status of asylum seekers arriving on British shores.
Speaking on The People's Channel, Hunt fumed: "The only way to solve this is through strong deterrents
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"For me, that means leaving international agreements that limit our ability to act decisively and deport illegal migrants.
"I don’t even think they should be processed. If someone enters our country illegally, they’ve broken our immigration law, and they’re criminals. They should be deported, full stop."
Nelson responded: "They are not criminals. There’s nothing illegal about crossing the Channel in a small boat."
Hunt fired back: "They’ve broken our immigration law. They’ve illegally entered our country, yes, they are [criminals]."
Nigel Nelson fumed there is "nothing illegal" about crossing the channel
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Nelson said: "No, they haven’t."
Hunt shouted: "Most people in this country see them for what they are. They have broken our immigration law, they have illegally entered our country, and they have no right to be here."
Nelson argued: "I’m sorry, they haven’t. There’s nothing illegal about crossing the Channel to claim asylum. If their asylum is refused, they could be prosecuted for not having the correct documents. But actually crossing the Channel itself is not illegal. The law says it's inadmissible, that’s completely different."
Hunt: "The British people are watching this, year after year, seeing thousands of people mostly men arrive from a safe country, France, where they’ve failed to claim asylum. These are not refugees. They’ve got no right to be here.
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"If they were truly seeking refuge, they would have claimed asylum in France or another safe country along the way. They come here for benefits and a better lifestyle.
"Let’s stop pretending otherwise. The British public is fed up. They’re tired of hearing politicians talk about reform when nothing actually happens.
"Any meaningful change would require agreement from every member of the European Convention on Human Rights that’s not going to happen. We need to leave the ECHR and start delivering for the British people."
Nelson concluded: "If we go down that route, we’ll end up like Russia or Belarus."
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