A Home Office spokesperson said:
“This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings.
“We have stopped over 40,000 crossing attempts since this Government came into office through our joint work with the French. We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally. Our pilot deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
“The Home Secretary has announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times, removing the incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up the return of those with no right to be here.”
Background:
- The Home Secretary laid new measures in Parliament on Thursday 5th March which will remove support payments and accommodation for asylum seekers who illegally work, have the ability to support themselves, have the right to work, or have broken the law.
- Refugee status will now become temporary and subject to review every 30 months for all adults claiming asylum.
- The Home Secretary has pledged to scale up removals of failed asylum seeker families, saving the Home Office up to £20 million a year.
- The Home Secretary has announced measures to increase removals of illegal migrants with no right to be here, including restricting illegal migrants to a single route of appeal and fast-tracking cases with little chance of success to increase removals.
- Over 58,500 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been removed or deported from the UK since the 2024 election. More than 15,200 illegal migrants were deported and forcibly removed in that same period, a 45% increase on the 19 months prior. Deportations of foreign national offenders including murderers and rapists are up 32%, with more than 8,700 deported since government came into power.
- Our landmark one-in-one-out scheme means we can now send those who arrive on small boats back to France. 377 illegal migrants have now been removed under the pilot. In return, 380 migrants have come to the UK through a new, safe and legal route – subject to full documentation and security and eligibility checks.
- Under the Border Security Asylum and Immigration Act, we are taking on the gangs with stronger powers to disable criminal activity faster. Officers are now able to seize electronic devices like mobile phones, suspected of containing information about organised immigration crime.
- 2022 saw the worst year on record for small boat crossings when over 45,000 people arrived in the UK via small boat.