Minister Chris Philp has strongly defended the government’s Rwanda scheme, which aims to deter illegal immigration and asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel. He presented two case studies to support the hypothesis that deterrence can be effective.
The first example cited by Philp was Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders, implemented around a decade ago. The program, similar in principle to the Rwanda scheme, involved intercepting migrant boats and returning them to their departure points or relocating passengers to offshore detention centers. Philp noted that this approach led to a substantial decline in illegal maritime arrivals, from a level comparable to the UK’s current situation to zero.
Philp also highlighted a recent success story involving Albanian asylum seekers. In 2022, Albanians formed the majority of those crossing the Channel. However, after the UK government established a returns agreement with Albania, the number of Albanian crossings decreased by an impressive 95%.
These case studies, according to Philp, demonstrate the effectiveness of deterrent measures in curbing illegal immigration. He emphasized the necessity of disrupting the illicit trade run by people smugglers who exploit vulnerable individuals. By implementing effective deterrents, the UK can allocate more resources to assisting those who are genuinely in need of protection and asylum.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made addressing the issue of illegal boat crossings a key priority in the lead-up to the upcoming general election. Philp’s defense of the Rwanda scheme aligns with this commitment to deterring dangerous and unnecessary journeys, which often result in tragic loss of life.
