Former Minister Warns MPs That Illegal Immigration Poses an Existential Threat to Society
Andrea Jenkyns emphasized the pressures on public services and security threats due to unauthorized individuals being in the country.
Illegal immigration poses an “existential threat” to our society, causing wage suppression, security challenges, and straining public services, a former minister informed MPs.
“We are confronting an immigration and asylum crisis in the UK,” Dame Andrea Jenkyns mentioned in Westminster Hall, urging her colleagues to address this critical issue that ranks as the second most crucial concern for voters, following the economy.
“The British public is fed up, demanding action from our leaders. Illegal immigration poses an existential threat to our society, culture, and security, making it imperative to prioritize cracking down on the issue,” the former minister for skills and assistant whip stated.
Dame Andrea’s comments come following the enactment of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, allowing the transportation of unauthorized immigrants to Rwanda in the upcoming months.
£8 Million a Day to House Asylum Applicants
Dame Andrea presented the financial implications of handling illegal immigration and asylum, citing the daily cost of £8 million to accommodate asylum seekers and the Home Office’s £482 million enforcement expenditure last year in detecting, preventing, and removing unauthorized immigrants.
The UK also paid France £232 million from 2014 to the end of the financial year 2022/23 for border control, with plans to provide an additional £476 million over the next two fiscal years.
Related Stories
The former minister also raised concerns about wage suppression due to illegal immigrants working at lower rates and the burden on public services.
Access to NHS primary care, state education, legal aid, and local authority support is available regardless of legal status, leading Dame Andrea to share the numerous complaints from constituents unable to access these services.
Overall Cost of Illegal Immigration ‘Unknown’
Prior to the debate, the House of Commons Library issued a briefing stating that the overall cost of illegal immigrants to taxpayers “remains unknown.” Estimating the size of the illegal immigrant population is also challenging, ranging from 800,000 to 1.2 million based on 2017 figures, with uncertainty about the current situation in 2024.
Reflecting on these figures, Dame Andrea highlighted the potential economic burden on taxpayers and the impact on public services.
Security Threats
Dame Andrea pointed out the human cost of security threats, mentioning victims killed by foreign nationals who should not have been in the UK, such as the tragic cases involving Emily Jones and the Reading attacks in 2020.
Immigration minister Tom Pursglove acknowledged the financial and security challenges posed by illegal migration, recognizing the impact on constituents and public services.
