United Kingdom to deal with unlawful migrants in disused army websites

The transfer is meant to sort out the “eye-watering 2.3 billion pounds a year bill” for inns used to deal with asylum seekers who land on UK shores.

London ,UPDATED: Mar 30, 2023 02:55 IST

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s proposed “Stop the Boats” crackdown towards harmful crossings facilitated by folks smugglers. (File Photo)

By Press Trust of India: The UK authorities on Wednesday unveiled new plans to deal with unlawful migrants in disused army websites, with the primary tranche of such places tabled within the House of Commons as a part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s proposed “Stop the Boats” crackdown towards harmful crossings facilitated by folks smugglers.

UK Immigration minister Robert Jenrick instructed MPs of plans to deal with migrants at former Royal Air Force (RAF) websites in Essex, Lincolnshire and East Sussex in England.

The transfer is meant to sort out the “eye-watering 2.3 billion pounds a year bill” for inns used to deal with asylum seekers who land on UK shores.

“I have said before that we have to suffuse our entire system with deterrence, and this must include how we house illegal migrants. So today the government are announcing the first tranche of sites we will set up to provide basic accommodation at scale,” Jenrick mentioned in a Commons assertion.

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“The government will use military sites being disposed of in Essex and Lincolnshire and a separate site in East Sussex,” Jenrick mentioned in a Commons assertion.

“These will be scaled up over the coming months and will collectively provide accommodation to several thousand asylum seekers through repurposed barrack blocks and portakabins,” he mentioned.

The minister additionally revealed that barracks at Catterick Garrison, which is situated in Sunak’s constituency of Richmond (Yorks) in north England, are being assessed for suitability as a possible lodging web site.

“The Prime Minister set out a comprehensive plan to tackle illegal migration. We said we would act, and we have,” famous Jenrick.

The minister mentioned that the sheer variety of small boat arrivals has overwhelmed the nation’s asylum system and compelled the federal government to position asylum seekers in inns, which take worthwhile property away from communities and place pressures on native public companies.

“Seaside towns have lost tourist trade, weddings have been cancelled, and local councils have had their resources diverted to manage them,” Jenrick mentioned.

“The hard-working British taxpayer has been left to foot the eye-watering 2.3 billion pound a year bill. We must not elevate the well-being of illegal migrants above that of the British people; it is in their interests that we are sent here,” he mentioned.

“Accommodation for migrants should meet their essential living needs and nothing more because we cannot risk becoming a magnet for the millions of people who are displaced and seeking better economic prospects,” he mentioned.

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He pointed to the federal government’s Illegal Migration Bill, which is presently being debated in Parliament, as an “enduring solution” to cease the boats and mentioned the brand new funding can be made obtainable for native authorities to assist take care of the price of the brand new lodging websites.

The UK Home Office can be mentioned to be persevering with to discover plans to make use of ferries and ships as a type of lodging whereas asylum claims are being processed.

The new housing plans are geared toward decreasing the over 6 million kilos a day the British authorities says it spends on resort lodging whereas additionally appearing as a deterrent to forestall English Channel crossings from neighbouring European international locations.

The new plans are more likely to meet native opposition and criticism from native MPs whose constituencies are impacted by the brand new lodging services. The Opposition events and a few charities have additionally voiced issues.

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Mar 30, 2023