Latest news with #illegalmigration
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Bring back Rwanda scheme to end small boats crisis, says architect of Australia's successful migrant crackdown
The mastermind behind Australia's migrant crackdown has called on Keir Starmer to 'reinstitute' the Rwanda scheme. Alexander Downer called on the Prime Minister to 'eat a bit of political humble pie' and resurrect the scheme, which was scrapped last year in one of Starmer's first acts after being elected into No 10. Sir Keir insisted the deportation scheme was a £700million 'gimmick' which did nothing to cut migrant Channel crossings. But Mr Downer, who was Australia's minister for foreign affairs from 1996 to 2007, claimed the move was a 'tragedy' and believes it could have worked if the legal issues surrounding it 'could be properly addressed'. 'It would have worked assuming the legal issues could be properly addressed — and they were being,' he told the Sun. 'So the easiest thing for them to do would be to eat a bit of political humble pie and reinstitute the Rwanda scheme.' Just earlier this week, Downing Street admitted the situation in the Channel was 'deteriorating' as the number of migrants reaching the UK topped 2,000 in a week for the first time in 21 months. The 2,222 arrivals over seven days meant an average of one migrant reached Britain every four-and-a-half minutes. Mr Downer has previously expressed his belief in having a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to illegal migration. The former foreign minister was one of the masterminds behind Australia's crackdown on illegal immigration in the early 2000s, which sought to punish migrants who arrived on the country's shores by boat. This meant sending them by boat to detention centres in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific island of Nauru, where migrants would be offered to return to their home countries and refugees were told they could resettle in another. 'Once word got round that if you tried to get into Australia by boat you would not be allowed in and would be sent to Papua New Guinea instead, they ran out of customers. The smugglers' businesses closed down,' he previously said. The Tony Abbott government claimed a 90 per cent reduction in maritime arrivals of asylum seekers once the policy was introduced in 2013. There were 207 arrivals in November that year, opposed to 2,629 in November 2012. Starmer has pledged to crack down on smuggling gangs that bring people into the UK in small boats, including by targeting criminal networks overseas. Last month he said the Government would start talks with other countries on 'return hubs' for failed asylum seekers, which would see failed asylum seekers sent for processing in third countries prior to deportation. The PM admitted these would not be a 'silver bullet' for halting the crossings, but the proposal is expected to act as a deterrent. Last week's crossing total was the most since September 2023, when the former Tory government's Rwanda policy was still in legal limbo. It tipped the total since Labour came to power at last July's general election past the 40,000 mark, hitting 40,276. Since the start of this year, 17,034 migrants have reached Britain, up 38 per cent on the same period last year. The figure does not include hundreds more who reached Dover yesterday. Reform leader Nigel Farage said it was 'about time' Britain faced up to the fact it was 'our fault' – rather than France's – that so many migrants head here. 'We will never stop the boats from leaving France,' he told broadcaster Talk.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
France ready to intercept Channel migrants on boats bound for UK
France is working on new rules of engagement that would allow its police to board small boats up to 300 metres from the coast to stop them from reaching Britain, the Interior Ministry has told The National. The neighbours hope to unveil the measures at next month's UK-France Summit, according to a document seen by Reuters. "Today, we can only intervene to rescue a boat at sea," a source at the French Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. "We wish to make changes to this [existing] framework in order to be able to operate in shallow waters, up to 300 metres from the coast, and thus intercept ' taxi boat s', while respecting the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." The reasons for rising numbers attempting to cross the English Channel are favourable weather and new smugglers' strategies that have generated a "massive influx of nationals from the Horn of Africa", the ministry said. As a result, the average load of each illegal boat has increased. Small boats are typically 8m long and are built to carry up to 15 people but smugglers are known to pack more than 80 on board, leading to a mounting death toll. Nearly 80 people died last year trying to cross from northern France to the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the UK Parliament this month that a French maritime review of operational tactics was under way. "We are urging France to complete this review and implement the changes as swiftly as possible," Ms Cooper said. The Interior Ministry said the UK concerns were understandable. "We are aware of the high stakes involved in interventions at sea and of the need to adapt our action doctrine," it said. A proposal for action at sea would be developed in summer, it added. In 2021, France had refused a similar request to change tactics made by Ms Cooper's predecessor Priti Patel. NGOs say intercepting small boats at sea is a dangerous practice that endangers the lives of migrants on board, and link the increase in the number of deaths in the process last year to police repression. the prefect of Saint-Omer told news website InfoMigrants in December 2023 that law enforcement had been given "extremely clear instructions to never endanger the lives of migrants". After meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Canada this week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said migration should be a key focus at next month's summit given the deteriorating situation in the Channel. Ahead of the summit, Mr Macron will be in Britain for a state visit, during which he will meet King Charles III. Ties between France and Britain have improved since Mr Starmer took office last year, the neighbours brought closer by shared concerns over Russian aggression towards Ukraine and the need to re-arm Europe as US President Donald Trump plots a more isolationist position for the world's largest economy. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has made the fight against illegal migration a priority. To that end, on Wednesday he announced the deployment of 4,000 police personnel in train and bus stations across France.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer ridiculed for boasting of his 'world-leading effort' on tackling illegal migration - as record numbers cross the Channel while helpless French police watch on
Keir Starmer faced ridicule for boasting that Britain is leading the world in tackling illegal migration – as record numbers continued to cross the Channel today. The Prime Minister highlighted UK plans to slap travel bans and asset freezes on people-smuggling kingpins in talks with fellow world leaders at the G7 summit in Canada. He held one-on-one talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and Downing Street said afterwards that he 'raised the UK's world-leading work on people-smuggling sanctions'. Today, however, there was little sign of any deterrent in action as the gangs who organise the crossings continued to outwit French police. Last week officers on the beaches of northern France waded into shallow waters for the first time and used tear gas and pepper spray in an attempt to disperse hundreds of migrants trying to get into dinghies. But today, they were back to their usual position of just looking on with those piloting the waiting boats simply moving further away from the beach of Gravelines. It means dozens of migrants wearing lifejackets were forced to go into deeper water before they could clamber on board. Dramatic images showed migrants in water up to their necks, with several carrying children on their shoulders. Meanwhile, armed officers from the French riot police, known as the CRS, were left standing by once more. Despite police being on the 3km stretch of beach from before dawn, they were outfoxed by dozens of migrants who hid in the dunes before making a break for the water at the time the boat was due to arrive. Meanwhile The Prime Minister was in Canada for the G7 summit boasting about the UK's 'world-leading effort' on tackling illegal migration As the sun rose, down the banks the crowd sprinted and into the water at the opposite end of the beach to where the police stood. An earlier attempt had seen some migrants turned back by officers when the advertised dinghy failed to appear, leaving them stranded in the surf. A legal loophole prevents, on safety grounds, the authorities from intervening once individuals are in the water. Which made Friday's action surprising. But there are fears it was simply for the cameras, because today it was a return to inaction. It is not known yet how many migrants reached the UK today but the Home Office said there were zero crossings on Sunday, following four days of high activity. So far this year to 16,317 small boat migrants have arrived here, 43 per cent per cent higher than the 11,431 who arrived in the same period of 2024. Latest Home Office figures show that 1,505 migrants took advantage of better weather to reach English shores between Wednesday and Saturday. Last night Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'The Prime Minister has some gall to claim that he is doing a good job on migration after overseeing record numbers crossing the Channel. 'So far, this year has been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel. It is ludicrous that Keir Starmer is boasting about his record when he has lost control of our borders. 'Far from being innovative, this Labour government cancelled the Rwanda deterrent before it even started, and illegal immigration has surged as a result.' The PM had already pledged to put more pressure on the French to help tackle the growing small boats crisis. He was due to hold a meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit overnight and told reporters: 'I want to see more co-operation in northern France, and it's an issue that I have raised and will raise again with President Macron.' France, which has been given £480million by the UK in recent years, has promised a review of tactics that could lead to police taking a tougher stance. Asked by the Mail if it was not premature to describe the UK's approach to people-smuggling as world-leading, a Downing Street spokesman said: 'We've always been clear, there isn't a silver bullet to this. 'The only way to tackle this is through international partnerships and international solutions… and the sanctions are just one part of that.' No 10 said that Sir Keir had a 'lengthy' discussion about illegal migration in his bilateral meeting with Italian PM Ms Meloni at the G7 in Kananaskis, Alberta, on Sunday evening. A readout of the talks said they would 'continue working together on innovative solutions to break the criminal model of irregular migration. The Prime Minister raised the UK's world-leading work on people-smuggling sanctions.' Ms Meloni said at the start of the meeting: 'I'm very happy about all of our co-operation on migration… and thanks to UK for being very clear on this topic.' Sir Keir raised his plans again in a formal session on 'making communities safe' last night. 'The Prime Minister will say that the G7 can go further to tackle the blight of organised criminal gangs. We will encourage other leaders to make progress on new sanctions legislation in line with the UK's approach,' No 10 said before the meeting. But critics said there is no evidence the sanctions regime has come into force or had an impact on the people-smuggling trade.
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Rand Paul's Standoff on the Border
How much does it cost to secure a border that President Trump has already closed? The Administration wants to maximize spending on border measures that aren't likely to cut illegal migration any further. But Congress can strike a better balance between security and fiscal responsibility. The Senate Homeland Security Committee released text Thursday for the border section of the reconciliation bill, and its plans curb the excesses of the version the House passed last month. The biggest loser is the border wall, which would have its new funding slashed to $6.5 billion from $46.5 billion in the House bill. The Senate proposal devotes $39 billion to the border compared with the $62 billion approved in the House. These lower funding levels are a better match for the current state of the border. Fewer than 13,000 illegal migrants have been apprehended while crossing the border in each of the past three months, compared with a peak of more than 300,000 in a single month under President Biden. President Trump halted illegal migration by pausing new asylum claims, which didn't require tens of billions of dollars for new barriers and surveillance. Yet the White House wants to mark its agenda with a big dollar figure, and it's preparing to steamroll Senate opponents. When Sen. Rand Paul, who leads the Homeland Security Committee, described his spending plans on X last week, Trump adviser Stephen Miller accused him of 'trying to cut funding' for border security. It's usually a Democratic tactic to blast smaller spending increases as 'cuts,' but Mr. Miller used the line to lobby GOP Senators during a visit to Capitol Hill.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why it is Groundhog Day for Starmer with Trump at the G7
When Keir Starmer arrived to speak to journalists on Sunday morning at the British High Commission in Ottawa, there was a temporary distraction as one of the resident groundhogs made an appearance. But in more than one way, the prime minister's trip to Canada has the same 'Groundhog Day' feel to it as the constant repetition of events seen in the famous comedy film of that name. The G7 summit is taking place on Monday and Tuesday in Alberta as much of the world burns. With escalating crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, the leaders of the world's top democracies have much to discuss. But for Starmer, there are a number of issues to be revisited. He confirmed on the flight over that he will hold a mini-summit at the gathering, with representatives from France, Germany, Italy and the EU, over the continuing problems with illegal migration and small boats crossing the English Channel. There has been much unhappiness about French police failing to stop migrants getting into boats to cross to the UK despite the £400m they have received from the UK taxpayer. Defence secretary John Healey has expressed his angst in recent weeks. But the prime minister said: 'Look, one of the things we've worked hard at is improving the relations with the French in relation to the work we both need to do to stop these boat crossings, which I'm determined we will absolutely bear down on. Nobody should be making that journey. 'As a result of that, we are seeing much greater cooperation in northern France. I want to see more cooperation in northern France, and it's an issue that I have raised and will raise again with President [Emmanuel] Macron. 'We have good relations between the home secretary and the interior minister, now that we're working on it jointly. It's one of the issues I'll be discussing – not just with Macron, actually, but with Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, and others.' While the G7 summit will include formal sessions on Ukraine, trade and the Middle East, much of the real business is done on the fringes in bilateral and group meetings. For Starmer, the most important of these less formal meetings will be his chat with Donald Trump, who will be attending a G7 gathering for the first time since being re-elected to the White House in November. Last time Trump was in Canada for a G7, in 2018, he ordered his team to unsign the joint communique because of a row with the then prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. It threw the whole thing into chaos. This time, Trump is opposed to there being any joint communique at all. Privately, Starmer does not seem to be confident that there will be any joint statements. Instead, he is looking to persuade Trump not to harm British interests. He wants the deal he agreed to last month with the US president to be implemented, with a deadline approaching on Wednesday. If things are not agreed before Wednesday, UK steel could be hit with a 50 per cent tariff instead of the zero tariff previously agreed in their much-lauded framework deal. Starmer told journalists: 'We've shaken on the deal and we're at the implementing stage now, which doesn't actually require another shake of the hand, although I am sure there will be many shakes of the hand. I mean, we have reached the agreement and are now implementing it, and that is going on.' Asked if it was 'job done', he replied: 'Well, we are at the final stages. We had to do various things, they had to do various things, but I am very confident we're implementing it.' But he will also have defence on his mind with Trump. The two will talk about the US president's decision to review the Aukus submarine deal between the US, the UK and Australia. Starmer appears confident that he can ensure the White House does not pull the plug on a vital part of the defence infrastructure. 'Aukus is really important,' he said. 'We're fully committed to it. It's not unusual for an incoming government to do a review of a project like that. We, of course, looked into the issue when we came into government, we had a look at it, and they're doing their own review. 'But I'm 100 per cent committed to it, I'm really clear about that.' Asked if he was confident that Trump would back it in the end, he said: 'Yes, I think so. It's a really important project, so I don't have any doubt that this will progress.' But at least Starmer can feel that he is among friends in Canada. He has spoken of his closeness to Canada's new PM Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England. The two had dinner on Saturday night before watching the violence of the Stanley Cup ice hockey final featuring Carney's favourite team, the Edmonton Oilers (who lost). The body-checks and slamming against the ice, along with the incredible speed of the game, felt quite representative of the kind of diplomacy expected over the next two days. Starmer will need to be on his skates as he deals with the ice patches ahead.
