THE world is facing a global migration crisis on an unprecedented scale, with some 80 million people displaced globally.
And here in the UK, faced with ever increasing pressures and costs at a twenty year high, it’s clear our asylum system is broken and in need of urgent radical reform.
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As a country, we lead the world in offering protection and sanctuary to the most vulnerable from across the globe.
It’s something Sun readers can be proud of.
We will not stand by while people are being oppressed and persecuted.
There are well established safe and legal routes available for people who are seeking sanctuary, which have helped many thousands of people in need make the UK their home.
Since 2015, we have welcomed over 185,000 men, women and children seeking refuge, and issued more than 40,000 visas under our Refugee Family Reunion policy.
We’ve extended support to British Nationals (Overseas) and their children threatened by severe security laws in Hong Kong, granting over 100,000 applications so they can live a life of freedom in the UK.
We’ve welcomed Syrian and Afghans through resettlement schemes, giving thousands of people a fresh new start without fear of persecution.
And most recently, in response to the horrifying events in Ukraine, we have created two new schemes to support people fleeing the country, with over 56,000 visas issued to date. Both of these schemes are uncapped.
The UK is rich in diversity and we are a better country for it.
We recognise and celebrate the contribution of people who come to the country lawfully, enriching our society and culture.
But in the face of severe pressure on the system, reform is essential to ensure we can continue to support people through our safe and legal routes.
At the heart of this approach is fairness so access to the UK asylum system based on need and not the ability to pay people smugglers.
People should not be making dangerous journeys after travelling through a safe country and risking their lives in the hands of evil people-smuggling gangs.
Last year, more than 28,000 migrants crossed by small boat compared to around 300 in 2018.
Thousands more arrived by other means, such as in the back of cars or packed together like sardines in lorry concealments.
The people smugglers have no regard for human life and only care about profit.
This is deeply unfair as it diverts our resources from those who are in genuine need of our protection.
And 27 people drowned in the Channel one day last November, so we must act.
The cost of managing illegal immigration is having an overwhelming impact, not just on our asylum system, but also on the resources we have available to control and protect our borders.
UK taxpayers are paying around £4.7m a day on housing migrants and those who have been resettled in hotels as part of a wider system costing over £1.5bn a year.
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The UK’s asylum system is broken, but not beyond repair.
Our world-leading Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, signed last week, will help break the people smugglers’ business model and prevent loss of life, while ensuring protection for the genuinely vulnerable.
And this is one part of the wider action we’re taking through our New Plan for Immigration which is paving the way for much needed and welcomed change, to tackle illegal migration, control our borders and crack down on the criminal gangs exploiting this international crisis.
Sceptics have doubted it’s achievable. But we are proving them wrong.
Taking strong action to tackle those illegal routes should, over time, see fewer people making dangerous crossings.
This will enable us to make further commitments to opening up our safe and legal routes to even more of those fleeing war or persecution.
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