THE Illegal Migration Bill risks breaching international obligations to protect human rights and exposing people to serious harm, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said.

The body issued the warning ahead of the Commons report stage of the proposed legislation tomorrow.

The Bill, which would change the law to make it clear people arriving in Britain illegally will not be able to remain in the country, has prompted criticism from opponents who have dismissed it as unworkable.

The commission said: “Provisions providing for the detention of children and pregnant women and removing protections for victims of trafficking and modern slavery are particularly worrying.

“Effective, rights-compliant action is needed to ensure that more lives are not lost on dangerous Channel crossings.”

The Refugee Council and Barnardo’s have estimated the Bill could lead to the detention of nearly 15,000 lone migrant children over the next three years.

Marley Morris, of the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, said: “The migration Bill will simply create a new backlog of people trapped outside the asylum system and with no right to work or access mainstream benefits.”