The Commons: Migration, Asylum and the new border security
BEN STANSALL
Immigration is a hot topic in the UK currently. Ipsos found in November 2024 that, according to 33% of Brits, immigration is the most important issue facing Britons today second only the economy at 39%. This has been reflected in opinion polls more widely with ReformUK doing increasingly well in voting intention polls due to their hard-line stance and strong rhetoric on immigration. As such the New Labour government are carefully considering their position on immigration and asylum policy – in part to fix what they call a ‘broken immigration system’ left by the previous government but also to face down the growing electoral threat of Reform.
Recent history of immigration policy is filled with unyielding narratives from successive governments, but with little success. A major argument for leaving the EU during the Brexit debate in 2016 was immigration control. Year on year net migration in 2016 was around 327,000, which many people, including those in the government at the time, thought was too high. As such, the Conservatives led by Theresa May promised to bring down net immigration to ‘the tens of thousands’ in their 2017 manifesto. By the time May was ousted and replaced by Boris Johnson in July 2019, year on year net migration was around 224,000. In the 2019 election, Johnson promised that ‘overall numbers will come down’ with respect to net migration. After a fall due to the COVID pandemic, net migration skyrocketed to reach a peak of 906,000 in 2023.
Year-on-year net migration
- Population
- GDP
- Population
- GDP
As net migration soared in recent years, the current government’s focus on immigration has resulted in significant changes to the country’s approach on asylum policy, legal enforcement, and humanitarian responsibilities. In a drive to fix the immigration system, the government is proposing the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2025 which includes a range of measures that aim to mark a clear departure from previous policies. The bill is designed to set out the role and responsibilities of the newly established Border Security Command, a key 2024 Labour manifesto commitment, led by Martin Hewitt since its inception on 5 July 2024. This command will act as the system leader for all matters relating to border security, coordinating efforts across law enforcement, intelligence, and immigration services. The bill will not only reinforce existing border controls but also introduce a range of new powers and offences intended to counter the threat posed by organized immigration crime.
However, as the Conservative opposition have pointed out, the border security bill does not directly tackle the issue of high net legal migration. They also argue that the provisions in the bill are not strong enough to deter irregular and illegal migrants from making the journey to the UK. The Conservatives said the bill “completely cancels any prospect of establishing a removal's deterrent” and the former Conservative home secretary James Cleverly added that the bill “is massively underpowered, it does not have the kind of game changing clauses that the current situation demands.” Mr Cleverly further accused the government of offering a “blank check” to asylum seekers and asked the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, to “explain where she envisions envisages people will be returned to if they fail in their asylum applications here in the UK, but their home nation is deemed not safe to return them to.”
The flip side of the political coin is on asylum and small boat crossings, inevitably tied to the issue of immigration despite contributing less than 1/8th of total net migration. Small boat crossings, which have been the predominant method of irregular entry since 2020, present a dual challenge: they are not only perilous – with the average number of people per boat rising from 41 in 2022 to 53 in 2024 – but they also fuel a criminal market exploited by organized smuggling networks. In 2024 alone, 36,816 migrants arrived on 695 small boats, underscoring the scale and risk of the current approach. Tragically, the International Organization for Migration estimates that at least 78 people lost their lives attempting these crossings in 2024.
The new Border Security Bill intends to counter this in a few ways. Firstly, by criminalizing actions that facilitate illegal immigration and by enhancing law enforcement capabilities, the government aims to reduce the number of dangerous crossings and the accompanying loss of life. Secondly, to disrupt criminal networks by introducing targeted offences and expanding search and seizure powers to dismantle the business model of people smugglers. Thirdly, by streamlining deportations and removing previously contentious provisions (such as the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024), the bill intends to speed up the deportation process for individuals without a legitimate asylum claim.
The alterations have sparked robust debates. Proponents argue that stronger enforcement measures are necessary to restore order and deter those who exploit loopholes in the system. They maintain that a secure border is the first step in protecting the integrity of the asylum process and, by extension, the safety of British citizens. Critics, including human rights organizations, warn that an overly punitive approach could undermine the very principles the UK is supposed to uphold. There are concerns that the emphasis on deterrence may inadvertently criminalize genuine asylum seekers or lead to rushed decisions that fail to adequately consider individual circumstances. Furthermore, by repealing previous measures without establishing comprehensive safe, legal pathways for asylum, the bill risks creating a system where vulnerable individuals are left with little choice if they wish to seek asylum in the UK. Critics also highlight that the bill must be accompanied by measures that address the root causes of migration, such as conflict and persecution overseas. A narrow focus on border control, without corresponding investment in international cooperation and humanitarian support, could ultimately exacerbate the problem by driving desperate migrants into even more dangerous circumstances.
In the coming months, as the bill passes through the House of Commons, debates will continue over its effects on migration, human rights, and the broader social fabric of the UK. But for now, the government’s new approach underscores a fundamental shift in the government’s and Labour’s approach to addressing immigration and asylum.
