UK PM Sunak announces plan to crack down on illegal migration

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced his government’s strategy to tackle illegal migration. The crackdown comes amidst a record number of migrant crossings on small boats looking to enter the United Kingdom.

The British government on Tuesday said it plans to pass legislation that would crack down on illegal migration, preventing those who cross the English Channel on small boats from remaining in the country. Sunak announced a national five-point strategy to address the concern, including the plans to fast-track the return of Albanian asylum seekers, as government records showed that Albanians make up the highest number of migrants arriving in the UK through small boats.

The strategy will also clear the backlog of nearly 150,000 asylum claims by the end of 2023 by adding more caseworkers.

“If you enter the UK illegally you should not be able to remain here,” Sunak told parliament. “Instead, you will be detained and swiftly returned to either your home country or to a safe country where your asylum claim will be considered.”

Sunak said a new unit would be formed to tackle illegal crossings, and future migrants would be housed in unused holiday parks, former student accommodations, and surplus military sites instead of hotels. Sunak said that thousands of Albanians would be returned home in the coming months.

Concerns over immigration were a driving factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum, with its supporters calling on the government to “take back control” of its borders. Sunak said the public is the “right to be angry” and the current system is unfair to those who have genuine asylum claims.

British opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said the last time the government reformed its immigration system, the issue only worsened. Some charities also say the problem will persist until the government allows asylum claims outside the country.

Last week, ministers from the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany agreed to ramp up cooperation in curbing illegal migration across Europe to stop human trafficking in the English Channel.

A record number of over 40,000 migrants entered the UK in small boats this year, as the issue has restarted tensions between the UK and its European neighbors, especially France.