UK Flags North Africa Migration Concerns as Border Bill Unveiled

Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrives at Downing Street in London, on Aug. 6, 2024. James Manning/PA

The Foreign Office has emphasised concerns over illegal immigration from North and North-East Africa as the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill was introduced in Parliament.

On Friday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy unveiled a new package of up to £5 million for education programmes in Tunisia.

The initiative aims to equip potential migrants with skills, improving their employability in their home country and discouraging illegal small boat crossings to the UK.

An additional £1 million will support migrants without legal status in Tunisia, assisting them in returning and reintegrating into their home countries.

“The support I am announcing today, alongside UK technology such as drones and night vision goggles, will save lives, bring down migration levels, and help us bear down on those responsible for smuggling migrants into the UK,” Lammy said.

Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt highlighted Tunisia’s “vital role” in combating organised crime and dismantling people smuggling networks. The goal is to “address the problem at its source,” deterring migrants from North Africa and other regions from attempting dangerous journeys.

Sudan

The Tunisia initiatives are part of the UK’s broader efforts to work with international partners to reduce migration. This follows Lammy’s recent statements on Sudan, a growing source of irregular migration to the UK, with numbers increasing by 16 percent last year.

Clashes between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group have resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, plunging the African nation into crisis.

“Unscrupulous smuggling gangs are looking to profit from the misery in places such as Sudan and the DRC and the longer these wars last, the greater their ripple effects,” Lammy said. He noted that neighboring countries like Chad are managing the crisis but warned that escalation could lead to broader regional instability.

Lammy has discussed the Sudanese conflict with the incoming U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adding that he expects the US to take a “big interest” in the region.

Critics have urged the UK to end arms sales to the UAE, citing its alleged role in exacerbating the Sudanese conflict. Independent MP Zarah Sultana called on Lammy to halt weapon sales, saying:

“These arms and supplies have been reportedly disguised as humanitarian aid, raising serious concerns about the UAE’s role in exacerbating conflict and suffering in Sudan. The UAE is one of the UK’s largest arms buyers, with billions of pounds worth of defence exports licensed in recent years.”

Global Cooperation

The UK is also strengthening collaborations with other overseas partners to tackle organised immigration crime.

Britain’s agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, signed in November, aim to support plans to crack down on organised immigration crime. The deals, building on the existing partnership between the UK and Albania, will increase intelligence sharing to intercept the gangs as they transport vulnerable people through the Western Balkans.

Smuggling networks operating out of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Europe, are behind illegal migration and trafficking, including across the Channel to the UK.

Britain and Iraq have agreed to work on the returns of illegal immigrants arriving in Britain.

The Home Office has also agreed a new deal with Germany to curb irregular migration.

Immigration Bill

The Foreign Office Tunisia announcements come a day after the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill was introduced to Parliament on Thursday.

It outlines measures to tackle illegal migration, including a new offence for endangering another life during a sea crossing to the UK, with a five-year jail term sentence. Under the bill, people selling and handling boat parts suspected of being used in migrant Channel crossings could face up to 14 years in prison.

Other measures include modernisation of biometric checks overseas to better identify migrants entering the UK and blocking those with criminal records.

To combat people smuggling, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has removed more than 8,000 social media accounts linked to smugglers. These accounts falsely advertised small boat crossings as speedboat journeys, offered rewards for migrant referrals and sold fake ID documents.

Home Office figures show that 36,816 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year, a 25 percent increase from 2023.

The Refugee Council has said that government enforcement measures, including increased efforts to disrupt smuggling gangs, have made Channel crossings even more dangerous. It has described 2024 as the “deadliest” year on record for Channel crossings and reported 69 deaths, including a number of babies and children.

The organisation has called for a mixed approach that combines enforcement and the introduction of safe and legal routes for immigrants.

PA Media contributed to this report.