Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

(asked on 28th August 2026) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to seek additional agreements with European countries on the return of people who enter the United Kingdom illegally.


Answered by
Anna Turley Portrait
Anna Turley
Minister of State (Home Office)
This question was answered on 11th September 2026

Over 80,000 individuals with no right to remain in the UK, including those working illegally and foreign criminals, have been returned or removed from the UK since the 2024 election. This includes 13,129 enforced returns and 12,446 voluntary returns to European countries.

Illegal migration is a shared European challenge that requires a coordinated response. The UK’s cooperation with France has resulted in an over 40% reduction in small boat arrivals this year, and the transfer of over 1400 individuals under our UK-France Returns Treaty. We remain committed to working closely with European partners to find a solution to this shared challenge.

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