Priti Patel will introduce laws next week to enable the government to send asylum seekers abroad for processing as she opens talks with Denmark over sharing a centre in Africa.
The Nationality and Borders Bill will include a provision to create an offshore immigration processing centre for asylum seekers for the first time.
Boris Johnson is said to be keen on the plan after the arrival in Britain this year of more than 5,600 migrants who have crossed the Channel in small boats.
The Times has learnt that Home Office ministers and officials have discussed their proposals with their counterparts in Denmark, which passed its own law this month to process asylum seekers outside Europe.
A government source said that representatives of both countries discussed
