The Guardian view on migration: this bill is proof of the government’s failure | Editorial

By pledging to deport asylum seekers, ministers are trying to make political capital out of desperate people

On Monday, the illegal migration bill returns to the House of Commons, and what is expected to be a grim game of legislative ping-pong with the House of Lords. Having made a handful of concessions this week, including adjusting the terms under which children and pregnant women can be detained, ministers claim to have reached their limit. Further amendments will be blocked.

It appears unlikely that rebels, including the former prime minister Theresa May, will exert sufficient pressure to force a rethink. Mrs May objects strongly to the removal of safeguards for migrants who claim they are victims of modern slavery. Under current rules, they are protected from deportation. If the bill passes, they will be able to avoid it only if the home secretary decides that a live investigation requires their cooperation. Mrs May and her supporters rightly point out that this would lead to trafficked people being deported back into the hands of traffickers.