This week we point to prosecutions of illegal immigration offences – just 625 prosecutions a year between 2017 and 2019); see ‘Blog of the Week’ below. This is doubly concerning as our borders are still as porous as ever, despite the tough talk from government and the continued global health crisis. As out Channel Tracking Station shows, the number of illegal crossings made this year has soared to 1,495, that is more than double the number this time last year. Boatload after boatload of people continue to arrive on our shores. We also saw news this week (comment below) that gangs of people traffickers are using those of their victims they think will elicit greatest sympathy as decoys for those likely to prove less convincing as asylum applicants. Of course there is no shame among the ruthless, mercenary traffickers. We will continue to stand up for the voice of the majority and call for sensible, humane immigration control.
Here is an update of our news this week
Blog of the week
As already mentioned, our recent blog is on the failure by the authorities to prosecute illegal immigration offences (only 625 prosecutions, despite nearly 65,000 reports of immigration and commodity abuse by members of the public to the Home Office between 2017 and 2019.) This trend was confirmed in a Parliamentary Answer to our President Lord Green of Deddington. The government said in a recent policy announcement that it plans to toughen the maximum sentences for illegally entering the UK (we referred to this announcement in last weeks email). We support this move, but what is the point if the marked reluctance to prosecute continues?
Migration Watch in the media
See below for our Chairman Alp Mehmet’s reaction to the week’s immigration news:
Bloomberg: Immigration Is the Wealthy World’s Challenge of the Century
’Max Hastings is right to point to the global scale of the problem. There is of course a strong case for doing everything possible to convince people not fleeing war or persecution, who are simply leaving their countries for economic reasons, to stay put. But with our porous border, navigable immigration rules and a shaky asylum system, why wouldn’t would-be migrants chance their arm?’
Mail Online: Ruthless people smugglers ‘are using the poorest migrants in cheap boats as decoys to give those paying ‘premium’ rates a better chance of making Channel crossing’
‘This says it all. The Home Office plans to “break the business model” of people smugglers. However, given we have heard such tough talk many times over the years only for the problem to go on growing, I won’t hold my breath. And I really hope I’m wrong.’
Mail Plus: Scrap the Human Rights Act to restore faith in British justice
‘Surely an example of unintended consequences. Laws meant to serve the interests of those whose human rights have been abused being used to thwart justice. It is the height of irony that men who have groomed and raped children can hide behind the right to a family life. Deport them as quickly as humanly possible, say I.’
The Times: Immigration not a ‘fix-all’ warns report
‘While this report focused on Scotland, its conclusions could apply to the whole of the United Kingdom. However, with regard to Scotland, as the report says, immigration should not be seen as a “fix-all” for issues such as a low birth rate and a failure to retain and improve the skills of the existing population. Immigration is little more than a temporary band-aid for dealing with these longstanding issues.’
Make your voice heard
Finally, our usual reminder to write to your MP here.
It really does prompt them to stop and think when they receive letters from their constituents. Fact is, the government have made a mess of immigration policy. For now, they are able to hide behind thin international travel but at some point the pandemic will be behind us (please God) and then we could quickly get back to pre-Covid immigration levels, with growing numbers being sucked in by the appallingly loose work visa rules. While hundreds of thousands of international students will be able to stay on to do any job. Nor should we forget that 5.4 million Hong Kongers now have the right to come and settle here. Control? If only.