Robert Jenrick, one of the final four candidates vying to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party, has pledged to impose strict visa restrictions on countries that fail to accept the return of illegal migrants. His proposal specifically targets nations like India and Vietnam. Jenrick highlighted that while the UK issued 250,000 visas to Indian nationals in 2023 for work, tourism, and study, approximately 100,000 Indians are residing in the UK illegally, with deportation numbers “stuck in the hundreds.”
Plans to Drastically Increase Deportations
Jenrick introduced a five-point strategy aimed at ramping up deportations of illegal residents in the UK to over 100,000 annually, a fivefold increase. “It’s time to take a firm stance with these countries and suspend visa issuance until they agree to accept their nationals living here illegally,” he stated.
This follows a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK and India designed to streamline the repatriation of illegal migrants. Despite this, only 22,807 individuals were deported in 2023, with Indian nationals constituting 15% of the total (3,439 individuals).
Linking Visas and Aid to Compliance
Jenrick also proposed tying foreign aid and visa policies to cooperation on repatriations. He singled out Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan as nations receiving UK aid but not supporting the returns of their nationals. “The government must stop allowing other countries to exploit our generosity by enforcing strict visa limits and reducing aid to nations that fail to cooperate on repatriations,” he asserted.
Expanded Repatriation Agreements and Legal Changes
As part of his broader immigration policy, Jenrick called for legislation to classify countries such as Vietnam, Turkey, and Brazil as “safe nations.” This would allow the UK to negotiate expedited deportation agreements, similar to its existing arrangement with Albania. “These are holiday destinations, not war zones,” he argued.
Jenrick also advocated for withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), stating it obstructs swift deportation of foreign offenders. The UK currently houses approximately 11,800 foreign offenders, with 4,000 residing in the country for over five years post-incarceration. Foreign criminals make up more than 10,000 of the 87,000 prisoners in English and Welsh prisons, costing taxpayers £47,000 per inmate annually.
Tackling Illegal Employment and Systemic Failures
Jenrick emphasized the need to crack down on companies employing illegal workers, suggesting criminal liability for employers involved. He warned that illegal migration imposes “intolerable pressure on communities and taxpayers.”
“The system is broken. Despite a significant rise in illegal residents over the past two decades, deportations have plummeted,” he said. Reflecting on his tenure as immigration minister, he noted, “I increased removals by over 50%, but we now need fundamental reforms. Anyone arriving illegally from a safe country must be removed immediately.”
Political Momentum
Jenrick has emerged as a frontrunner in the leadership race, topping the two parliamentary hustings held so far and likely advancing to the final party membership vote. However, Home Office officials clarified to The Times of India that visa bans are not the policy of the current Labour-led government.
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