SAFETY RISK
Small boat migrants are constantly monitored as ‘potential threats’ in ‘security emergency’, ex-minister says
Mr Jenrick has been arguing for the French to put a row of buoys in the shallows to thwart small boats
MANY small boat migrants are under constant monitoring by the security services as potential threats, the former immigration minister has revealed.
Robert Jenrick said the Channel crisis is a “national security emergency” because we “know little, if anything” about the tens of thousands of annual arrivals.
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He said politicians had been too “squeamish” about tackling illegal immigration during a speech to an American think tank.
Speaking at the Heritage Foundation, he said: “Many mean us no harm, but a significant minority have criminal pasts. Or are intent on criminal futures.
“There’s already a well-evidenced connection between those arriving illegally and serious criminality, particularly the drug trade.
“There are also numerous individuals being monitored by our security services for fear that they’re extremists who mean to do serious harm.”
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Mr Jenrick has been arguing for the French to put a row of buoys in the shallows to thwart small boats.
In 2022, 19 suspected terrorists were among the year’s small boat arrivals but last year’s figure is yet to be disclosed.
Mr Jenrick’s revelation will raise fresh pressure on Rishi Sunak to get his Rwanda plan up and running as soon as possible.
The former immigration minister - who resigned because he thought the scheme was too weak - visited the US southern border which has also been beset by illegal migration.
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Last year The Sun revealed that hundreds of small boat arrivals were hardened criminals.
Our investigation found murderers, rapists and terrorists broke into Britain via the Channel crossing.
WHAT IS THE RWANDA PLAN? IMMIGRATION SCHEME EXPLAINED
What is the Rwanda plan?
Under the plan, anyone who arrives in Britain illegally will be deported to Rwanda, a country in eastern Africa.
The government believes the threat of being removed to Rwanda will deter migrants from making the dangerous Channel crossing in small boats.
Once in Rwanda, their asylum claims will be processed but there is no route back to the UK, save for some exceptional circumstances such as individual safety concerns. Britain will pay for migrants to start a new life in Rwanda.
What’s the hold up?
First announced by Boris Johnson in 2022, the scheme has been bogged down by relentless legal challenges.
The first flight was due to take off in summer 2022, but was blocked on the runway at the last minute by a European Court order.
Since then the legality of the plan has been contested in the courts, culminating in a Supreme Court judgement in November last year which said Rwanda was unsafe for asylum seekers.
What is Sunak doing?
To salvage the Rwanda plan from the Supreme Court’s scathing ruling, Rishi Sunak announced a two-pronged workaround.
First, he would sign a new treaty with Rwanda to beef up protections for asylum seekers that will be enshrined in law.
Second, he would introduce new legislation that would declare Rwanda a safe country.
It would mean courts, police and officials would have to treat it as safe unless there is a risk of individual and irreparable harm.
How long will that take?
The legislation has cleared the Commons but is now being held up in the House of Lords.
Rishi Sunak does not have a majority in the Lords, and peers are far more hostile to the plan.
They will likely send it back to the Commons with amendments watering down the scheme.
Such changes would be unconscionable to MPs who would strip out the measures and send it back.
This “ping-pong” will continue until either side - usually the unelected Lords - gives in and the Bill passes.
When will flights take off?
Mr Sunak wants to get the first flights sent to Rwanda by the spring.
But potential hurdles include more court battles launched by individual migrants or the European Court of Human Rights.
Mr Sunak has vowed to ignore any more orders by Strasbourg judges to ground planes, although individual appeals in domestic courts could prove tricky.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he will scrap the scheme if he is elected PM, even if it is working.
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