World Leaders Attend Organized Immigration Crime Summit In London
2 weeks ago
Britain hosted a meeting of more than 40 countries and organizations, including the United States, France and Vietnam, to try to coordinate internationally its fight against illegal migration and those who profit from it.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for nations to pool resources to tackle the problem of illegal migration at "every step" of the route, from North Africa and the Middle East to Britain's streets.
Starmer, like his predecessors for more than a decade, is seeking ways to stop migrants coming illegally to Britain, where immigration remains a major issue for voters worried by pressure on scarce resources like healthcare and housing.
Starmer was elected in July last year, promising to "smash the gangs" behind the crossings. He immediately ditched the previous Conservative government's policy to deter migrants through a scheme to deport them to Rwanda.
He said Britain had deported more than 24,000 people who had no right to be in the country since his Labor government had taken office, which his government said was the highest return rate for eight years.
However, the number of people arriving in small boats has grown. More than 36,800 people made the crossing in 2024, 25% more than the previous year, while over 6,600 people have crossed successfully so far this year, 43% higher than the same period last year.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for nations to pool resources to tackle the problem of illegal migration at "every step" of the route, from North Africa and the Middle East to Britain's streets.
Starmer, like his predecessors for more than a decade, is seeking ways to stop migrants coming illegally to Britain, where immigration remains a major issue for voters worried by pressure on scarce resources like healthcare and housing.
Starmer was elected in July last year, promising to "smash the gangs" behind the crossings. He immediately ditched the previous Conservative government's policy to deter migrants through a scheme to deport them to Rwanda.
He said Britain had deported more than 24,000 people who had no right to be in the country since his Labor government had taken office, which his government said was the highest return rate for eight years.
However, the number of people arriving in small boats has grown. More than 36,800 people made the crossing in 2024, 25% more than the previous year, while over 6,600 people have crossed successfully so far this year, 43% higher than the same period last year.
