In a decisive move, the UK government has unveiled an ambitious plan to address the growing backlog of asylum seekers by initiating the deportation of illegal immigrants, including thousands of Pakistanis, back to their home countries.
This significant step reflects the government’s determination to enforce immigration laws and reduce the number of undocumented individuals residing in the country illegally.
According to reports from AFP, the UK government is actively working on a comprehensive strategy to repatriate illegal immigrants to their countries of origin.
The Home Office has recently published an advertisement seeking commercial partners to assist in the deportation of those who are residing in the UK unlawfully.
The three-year contract, valued at a staggering £150 million (approximately $197 million), was announced last week in the Financial Times.
The contract outlines plans to return individuals to 11 different countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Albania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Jamaica, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
British media reports indicate that the government’s goal is to deport around 14,000 people by the end of the year.
This move comes as the latest government statistics reveal that as of June this year, 119,000 people are still awaiting decisions on their asylum applications.
“The government is planning to fully enforce immigration laws, ensuring the deportation of individuals who have no legal right to remain in the UK,” stated a government spokesperson.
They further emphasized that all legal protocols will be strictly followed in the deportation process.
Since January this year, over 10,000 individuals have successfully entered the UK seeking asylum, many arriving via small boats.
The issue of illegal immigration, particularly via small boats, was a significant topic during the general elections held in July.
Stephen Kinnock, the Shadow Immigration Minister for the Labour Party, criticized the Conservative government’s approach, claiming that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration has failed to adequately address the issue.
“The government’s focus has been disproportionately on sending a few hundred individuals to Rwanda, while neglecting the thousands who cross the English Channel each month,” Kinnock remarked.
Within days of assuming office, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda.
He also pledged to dismantle the human smuggling networks that facilitate these dangerous crossings, profiting from desperate migrants who pay thousands of euros to reach the UK.
The UK’s new approach signals a tougher stance on illegal immigration, aiming to restore public confidence in the country’s immigration system and reduce the pressure on its asylum processing capacities.
Keywords/Tags: UK immigration policy, illegal immigrants UK, deportation plans, UK Labour government, asylum seekers UK
