UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, have unveiled a series of crackdowns on illegal immigration into the country in an effort to meet one of the government’s top priorities.
Over the weekend, Sunak announced a new voluntary partnership between social media companies and the government to accelerate action to tackle people smuggling content online, such as criminals sharing information about illegal English Channel crossings. The online content being targeted by the new partnership would cover discount offers for groups of people, free spaces for children, offers of false documents and false claims of safe passage – all of which the government says targets vulnerable people for profit and puts people’s lives at risk through dangerous and illegal journeys.
Sunak said: “To stop the boats, we have to tackle the business model of vile people smugglers at source.
“That means clamping down on their attempts to lure people into making these illegal crossings and profit from putting lives at risk. This new commitment from tech firms will see us redouble our efforts to fight back against these criminals, working together to shut down their vile trade.”
This week, the Home Office revealed a tripling of fines imposed on employers and landlords from the start of 2024. The penalty for employers will be raised to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach from the previous £15,000, and to £60,000 for repeat breaches from £20,000. For landlords, the fines will increase from £80 per lodger and £1,000 per occupier for a first breach to up to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier. Repeat breaches will be up to £10,000 per lodger and £20,000 per occupier, up from £500 and £3,000 respectively.
Robert Jenrick, UK Minister for Immigration, said: “Making it harder for illegal migrants to work and operate in the UK is vital to deterring dangerous, unnecessary small boat crossings.
“Unscrupulous landlords and employers who allow illegal working and renting enable the business model of the evil people smugglers to continue. There is no excuse for not conducting the appropriate checks and those in breach will now face significantly tougher penalties.”
Employers and landlords are expected to check the eligibility of anyone they employ or let a property to in the UK, including through a Home Office online checking system.
The measures come as there is much focus on another new government action of housing migrants awaiting decisions on their asylum applications on a barge docked at Portland in Dorset. While the move has faced criticism from some human rights groups, the government maintains all its measures are required to address the crisis of human traffickers abusing the country’s asylum system.
“Stop the Boats” is among Sunak’s top five priorities along with halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt and cutting National Health Service (NHS) waiting lists.
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