Illegal immigration is rife in the UK, but the new government is taking effective steps to tackle it at the source and put a stop to it. Keir Starmer is making decisions.
Illegal Immigration Crisis UK
According to the UK Parliament, The House of Lords Library, since March 2023 alone, an estimated 40,000 illegal foreign nationals have entered the UK.
Inadmissible Asylum Seekers
Visa applications for asylum seekers are “deemed inadmissible” by the Illegal Migration Act. A person entered the country illegally, according to the UK Parliament.
Means of Illegal Entry Into the UK
Illegal immigrants often arrive by small boat, crossing the English Channel. Early this year, between January and April, over 7,000 illegal immigrants arrived via small boat. According to the UK Parliament, some illegal immigrants take other illegal routes, including overstaying visas.
Starmer Taking Action Against Illegal Immigrants
Sir Keir Starmer, the UK’s newly elected Prime Minister, announced that he would allocate £85 million in funding towards the Middle East and African countries. The funds will be used to crack down on illegal immigration and the gangs involved.
Investigating Why
According to the UK Prime Minister, these funds will be for education, health, and humanitarian support. Starmer wants to get to the root course and learn why people are relocating.
A Dangerous World
According to Sky News, Starmer spoke at the European Political Community Summit, saying, “In a dangerous world we serve no one and solve nothing by turning inward.”
“Effects” Seen in UK Streets
Starmer expressed that the issues experienced in foreign national countries coming to the UK are seen in local streets. “It echos at home, and the effects play out in our streets…,” Starmer said.
Re-Evaluation of Strategy
According to Starmer, he said that the Labour Government would be revising the strategy by “resetting the approach.”
Work With Experts and Special Intelligence
The UK is said to work with organisations like Europol to get a deeper understanding of illegal immigration operations. Starmer has also appointed his Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to run the point.
Co-Operations to Stamp Out Crime
With Europol more present the goal is to stamp out organised crime at the root. The prime minister said the goal is to “put gangs out of business.”
Financial Breakdown to Tackle Illegal Immigration
According to Starmer, the funding will come from overseas in the budget allocated for this cause. The breakdown comprising the £85 million to address illegal immigration includes £13 million for immigration development in MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa) countries.
More Funding Breakdown
£21 million for host and transit countries in Africa, £26 million for Middle Eastern support to wartorn countries. £24 million support for countries like Chad, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
Solutions That Work
The Prime Minister reassured the public that the Labour Government wouldn’t use “gimmicks” and take taxpayer money. Instead, the new government would use what works with international and national laws.
Working With International Law
Starmer believes that working with international cross borders can stop gangs in their tracks. The plan is to disrupt the gang network routes by working with other governments from the start of the process.
Same as Organised Terrorism and Crimes
Starmer added that he does not believe that this process can’t work with organised migration crime. The same strategies used to bring down terrorists and other forms of organised crime will also work to end immigration crime.
It’s a Huge Task
Starmer has reiterated that it won’t be easy going about this plan. However, it is possible.
Working With Fellow European Countries
Another point Starmer addressed is working with Euro countries to stop immigration crimes.
Rwanda Scheme “Doesn’t Work”
Starmer has previously voiced his opinion that the “Rwanda Scheme doesn’t work.” With the new plan of working with others and collaborating on strategies to combat illegal immigration and crime, Starmer is confident the new way will work.
Using Rwanda Scheme to Stop Illegal Immigration
Unlike the Rwanda Scheme, Starmer and his team will use the Border Command Security system to stop smuggling and other illegal activities coming across the English Channel.
The Process Won’t Happen Over Night
Starmer has also voiced that the process of tackling these crimes won’t occur overnight. Tracing back, before the Labour Party won the election, there was a lot of time to make up for and a lot of work to be done. The government also has to deal with the balance of issues left by the former conservative government.
Possible Post-Brexit Relations to Follow
The Prime Minister also wants to use the opportunity to secure relations with EU countries to benefit the UK and amend certain restrictions that the conservative party resulted with Brexit.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Martin Suker.