Labour’s recently appointed Home Secretary has revealed that the process of deporting small boat arrivals to France will begin soon. Shabana Mahmood emphasized the importance of a new agreement between the UK and French governments in combating criminal human trafficking activities. Individuals who undertook the perilous Channel crossing last month have been apprehended and are set to be the initial group to be returned.
Under the terms of the agreement, an equivalent number of individuals with valid asylum claims in the UK will be relocated in place of those being deported. This development follows alarming statistics from the Home Office indicating that over 30,000 small boat crossings have occurred this year.
Ms. Mahmood, who assumed the Home Secretary role in a recent government reshuffle, condemned the small boat crossings as unacceptable and condemned the human traffickers orchestrating them. She stressed the importance of securing the UK border and enforcing immigration laws by promptly removing individuals crossing via small boats.
While the exact number of people to be deported through the pilot scheme remains undisclosed by the government, reports suggest that approximately 50 individuals per week will be detained and repatriated after arriving via small boats. The intention is to deter future attempts at such dangerous crossings, as stated by Keir Starmer. This marks the first post-Brexit return agreement negotiated by the UK.
In the upcoming days, Ms. Mahmood is scheduled to engage with counterparts from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to strategize on combatting human smuggling. This discussion will take place during the Five Country Ministerial meeting, focusing on enhancing border security and combating various criminal activities.
Ms. Mahmood emphasized the importance of rebuilding the UK’s international reputation in addressing organized crime and protecting borders. By collaborating with global partners and implementing strategic agreements, the UK aims to disrupt criminal networks engaged in smuggling activities effectively.