The government plans to achieve “the highest rate of removals of people denied the right to remain in the UK since 2018, including those whose asylum claims have not been approved, over the next six months,” the Home Office said in a statement.

“We are taking strong and clear steps to strengthen border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced,” said Secretary Cooper.

The new measures include the immediate recruitment of 100 new intelligence officers and investigators for the National Crime Agency (NCA) to “disrupt and dismantle people smuggling gangs and prevent dangerous boat crossings across the Channel”.

The government also revealed plans to boost detention capacity by adding 290 new beds at Campsfield and Haslar Immigration Centres.

Critics have called the government’s plans a “waste of taxpayers’ money”, saying they lack detail and fail to recognise the “dignity and humanity of migrants”, especially after recent riots targeting hotels housing asylum seekers across the country, according to The Independent.

The plan will see the British government carry out more than 14,000 deportations by the end of the year, the newspaper said. However, this is far lower than the 45,000 people deported in 2010 under the previous Labour government and fewer than the 19,000 migrants who have arrived in the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats this year, The Independent also noted.

Official statistics show that, including both legal and illegal immigration, around 1.2 million people moved to the UK last year, 85% of them from non-EU countries.

The UK government has implemented a series of stringent new sanctions in a determined effort to curb illegal immigration, sparking intense debate and controversy. The measures include harsher penalties for those facilitating illegal entry, expedited deportations, and increased border surveillance. These moves are seen by supporters as necessary steps to protect the country’s borders, discourage illegal crossings, and maintain the integrity of the immigration system.

Proponents argue that these sanctions will deter those attempting to enter the UK unlawfully and reduce the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by human traffickers. However, critics warn that the aggressive approach could lead to significant human rights violations and further marginalize those seeking asylum. They argue that the sanctions may create an atmosphere of fear and discrimination, potentially infringing on the rights of individuals fleeing persecution or conflict.

As the debate intensifies, questions are being raised about the potential impact of these sanctions on the UK’s international reputation and its commitment to humanitarian principles. The new policies have set the stage for a broader discussion on immigration, human rights, and the balance between security and compassion in a rapidly changing world.