UK Labour Party unveils major crackdown on illegal immigration
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary of the UK, has announced the deployment of a specialized team of more than 1,000 officers to intensify operations and monitor the activities of rejected asylum seekers, to palliate illegal immigration. The initiative aims to control irregular immigrants from countries like Vietnam. Vietnamese now constitute the largest group crossing the Channel illegally and who rarely obtain asylum.
The Home Secretary is also working to speed up decisions to deport rejected asylum seekers back to their home countries more rapidly. According to Cooper, these raids will help to eradicate illegal immigration. But also to dismantle the criminal gangs profiting from this cruel trade.
In an article written for The Sun on Sunday, Cooper stated, “We cannot pretend that everything is okay. Not when criminal gangs are making millions from dangerous small boat crossings that undermine our border security and put lives at risk.”
Targeting businesses employing illegal immigrants
The raids will focus on businesses known for employing illegal immigrants. These usually operate in the black market, such as car washes, nail salons, and beauty salons. Cooper added, “We have directed the Immigration Control Agency to intensify their operations this summer, targeting employers who fuel the trade of criminal gangs by exploiting and facilitating illegal work here in the UK, including car washes and the beauty sector.”
“We are developing new plans for quick decisions and returns to safe countries. Most people in this country want to see a properly controlled and managed asylum system, where Britain does its part to help those fleeing conflict and persecution, but where those who have no right to be in the country are swiftly removed.”
Addressing the small boat crisis: a major challenge
Addressing the crisis of small boats and illegal immigration is one of the biggest challenges for the new Labour government. Sir Keir Starmer hosted a European summit at Blenheim Palace earlier this week, where he pledged to lead by example in tackling this international conflict.
The Prime Minister stated that he would consider processing immigrants before they reach Britain, known as “offshore processing.” Additionally, he announced plans to explore new return agreements with other countries. Despite this, he has faced strong criticism for dismantling the Rwanda plan, which the Conservatives considered the only deterrent to prevent immigrants from making the dangerous Channel crossing.
Later this week, the Home Secretary will present highly controversial plans to allow 90,000 illegal immigrants the opportunity to apply for asylum. It is expected that about 60,000 will be granted asylum.
