No Easy Options: Irregular immigration in the UK

Article

This report aims to tackle head-on one of the most difficult public policy issues in the UK: how to reduce irregular immigration. Given that the best recent estimate put the number of irregular immigrants in the UK at well over half a million, the scale of the phenomenon is one obvious reason why it demands attention.

However, it is not scale alone, but rather scale allied to the harm it does which provides the compelling imperative to take action on irregular migration.

The report sets out four key priorities for action - reducing real harm, containing irregularity, increasing public confidence and reducing irregularity - and policy recommendations to work both upstream (pre-arrival) and downstream, including:

- initiatives in origin countries

- cooperation with transit countries

- border security

- targeting the irregular immigration industry

- a risk-management approach to enforcement and return, and

- increasing returns.

Related items

  1. A wind farm in the hills to the south of Glasgow, Scotland.

    Apathy and opposition: Understanding the real threats to net zero

    Climate action is under siege from populist and far-right actors. Delivering under that pressure demands fresh confidence and commitment from government. 
  2. A flood warning sign, on a closed country road next to water logged fields in the Avon Valley, Hampshire, England

    Adapt or die: Why progressives need to deal with extreme weather

    The impacts of extreme weather are already directly affecting people and communities across the UK. We lack ways to deal with this. 
  3. The outside of the BBC building in London with people walking in front of it

    Levelling the playing field: The BBC, Big Tech, and the case for a bold charter

    The upcoming charter renewal is the moment to give the BBC the resources, freedom and mission it needs to engage with technology firms on its own terms.