by Jake Sanders, Editor
London is preparing to implement a set of new initiatives aimed at addressing illegal immigration into the UK and enhancing border security, as announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Cooper revealed that the government intends to achieve the highest removal rate of individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK since 2018 within the next six months, including those whose asylum applications have been rejected.
“We are taking decisive action to strengthen our border security and ensure compliance with the rules,” Cooper said.
The new initiatives will involve the immediate hiring of up to 100 specialized intelligence and investigation officers at the National Crime Agency (NCA) to combat and dismantle criminal smuggling networks and prevent hazardous boat crossings.
Additionally, the government plans to expand its detention capacity by adding 290 new beds at the Campsfield and Haslar Immigration Removal Centres.
A new intelligence-led program will also be introduced to target and investigate employers who unlawfully hire individuals without the right to work in the UK. This will involve various sanctions, such as financial penalties, business closure orders, and possible prosecution for those found employing illegal workers. Individuals caught working illegally and subject to removal will be detained until their swift deportation.
Critics, however, have labeled these government plans as “a waste of taxpayer money,” arguing that they lack detail and overlook the dignity and humanity of migrants, particularly following recent riots targeting hotels housing asylum seekers.
According to reports, the plan aims for over 14,000 deportations by the end of the year, although this figure falls short of the 45,000 deportations recorded in 2010 under the previous Labour government and is less than the 19,000 migrants who have crossed the Channel in small boats this year. Official data indicates that approximately 1.2 million people, including both legal and illegal immigrants, moved to the UK last year, with 85% coming from outside the EU.