text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill - Only remove asylum seekers who are criminals if their sentence was ten years or more - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  The majority Not-Contents rejected an amendment[1] to the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020041_en_1 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill].
  
  The Bill gives the government the power to remove asylum seekers from the UK if they were convicted of a crime in another country for which the sentence was two years or more[2]. The aim of the amendment in this vote was to:
  
  :'change the test so that a person would be presumed to be a serious criminal if he had been convicted of a crime which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment or moreârather than using the criterion of the length of sentence imposed.'[3]
  
  However, the amendment was defeated.
  
  The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill became law in 2002. Its main aims were to:[4]
  
  * Allow asylum seekers to be detained at any time
  * Disallow appeals from within the UK from failed asylum seekers who are citizens of a specific country
  * Deny asylum seekers support unless they make their claim "as soon as reasonably practicable" after arrival into the UK
  * Create accommodation centres to house destitute asylum seekers
  
  ----
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2002-10-10a.470.0 Lord Kingsland], House of Lords, 10 October 2002
  * [2] [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020041_en_6#pt4-pb3-l1g72 Section 72 in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act]
  * [3] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2002-10-10a.470.1 Lord Kingsland], House of Lords, 10 October 2002
  * [4] Based on The Guardian's [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/15/nationality-immigration-asylum-act A-Z of legislation]
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  