Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unveiled the government’s strategy to combat illegal immigration, which focuses on strengthening border controls, reopening two detention centers, and expanding detention capacity by 290 beds. Cooper also committed to increasing deportations of failed asylum seekers to 2018 levels, aiming to deport 14,000 individuals by the end of 2024.
The government’s plan faced strong opposition, with critics labeling it a step backward. Cooper’s proposed deportation figures fall significantly short of the 45,000 asylum seekers returned under the previous Labor government in 2010. Additionally, 19,000 asylum seekers have already entered the country via the English Channel in 2024 alone.
The planned reopening of deportation centers in Campsfield and Haslar, which were closed in 2015 and 2019 following issues such as hunger strikes and suicide attempts, has sparked criticism. Opponents argue that the Home Secretary’s measures are a waste of taxpayers’ money and fail to acknowledge the dignity and humanity of migrants, particularly in light of recent racist riots targeting them.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International’s Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights, accused the Labor government of perpetuating the anti-migrant rhetoric of its Conservative predecessor. “People in need of help, including those fleeing conflict in countries like Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran, will continue to seek refuge in the UK and beyond. The government must establish safe routes to reduce the dangers of border crossings and exploitation by smuggling gangs,” Valdez-Symonds stated. He warned that the government’s immigration security plans would harm those in need of protection and leave them vulnerable to criminal exploitation.
Similarly, immigration expert Peter Walsh noted that “Ms. Cooper’s announcement lacks the specifics needed to understand how the government intends to increase deportations of failed asylum seekers.” Walsh explained that deportations encounter numerous legal and political challenges, such as individuals with family ties in the UK being protected from deportation, some countries refusing to accept their citizens, and the complexities of returning failed asylum seekers to countries like Iraq and Iran.
Conservative leadership candidate James Cleverly urged the Labour Party to provide a credible plan to tackle immigration and halt the influx of migrant boats. He accused Labour of failing to take a firm stance against human smuggling gangs, stating that while boosting resources for the anti-illegal immigration agency and expanding detention capacity are necessary, these actions alone are inadequate. Cleverly further criticized Labour for weakening deterrence measures and proposing to grant de facto amnesty to thousands of illegal immigrants.
