The UK government has announced plans to increase the country's detention capacity for foreign nationals who have no right to be here. This move is expected to lead to the removal of over 45,000 individuals who have committed crimes or are deemed to be failed asylum seekers. The expansion of detention facilities will see the capacity at Haslar and Campsfield Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) more than triple from 290 beds to 1,000, with each additional space allowing for more offenders and migrants to be removed.
According to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, returns and deportations are at their highest level in nearly a decade, with nearly 70,000 individuals with no right to be here having been removed from the UK since the government took office. The Home Secretary has vowed to intensify enforcement action, with the expansion of detention capacity and a significant increase in the Immigration Enforcement budget set to lead to tens of thousands more raids, arrests, and deportations of illegal migrants.
The decision comes after a report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) highlighted the sheer scale of the problem, revealing that the government inherited a migration system with over 412,000 illegal migrants in the UK. The government has also confirmed plans to bring forward an Immigration and Asylum Bill, which will reform human rights laws such as modern slavery legislation and Article 8 of the ECHR to prevent abuse by illegal migrants frustrating their removals.
The Home Secretary's plans have been met with a mixed reaction, with some welcoming the tough stance on immigration and others expressing concerns about the impact on human rights. As the government looks to tighten its grip on immigration, the question remains: what does this mean for the UK's relationship with the rest of the world?
The government's move to increase detention capacity and intensify enforcement action is likely to have significant implications for the UK's immigration system and its relationship with other countries. As the government looks to crack down on illegal migration, it remains to be seen how this will affect the lives of individuals and families affected by the changes.