Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has strongly opposed the UK government’s plan to accommodate illegal immigrants on a barge at London’s Royal Docks. He called the plans “abhorrent” and urged the government to treat asylum seekers with “humanity and dignity.” The Royal Docks Management Authority has denied permission to berth a barge at its King George V Dock, and in a letter to the Home Secretary, Khan expressed his opposition to the government’s policy of housing asylum seekers on vessels. The government’s plan to use vessels and alternative sites to accommodate more than 5,000 illegal immigrants aims to reduce the cost of expensive hotels, which the government estimates at £6 million a day. Khan has expressed concerns about the safety, health, and wellbeing of people fleeing appalling circumstances, stating that London has a proud history of providing sanctuary for those seeking refuge. The UK government’s Illegal Migration Bill aims to crack down on illegal immigrants reaching the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats. Khan has argued that the bill endangers tens of thousands of vulnerable people. The bill proposes removing immigrants who arrive illegally in the UK to their own country or a “safe list” country like Rwanda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended the government’s policy, stating that Britain’s asylum system is “overwhelmed with people traveling from safe countries.”