Robert Jenrick, one of the final four contenders in the race to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party, has introduced a bold proposal aimed at curbing illegal immigration. His plan involves "severely restricting visas" for countries that fail to cooperate in taking back their nationals who are living illegally in the United Kingdom.
This policy is specifically directed at India and Vietnam, two countries that Jenrick has singled out. He cited India as one of the primary targets due to the estimated 100,000 Indian nationals who are reportedly living in the UK without proper documentation. The statistic, according to a media report, underscores the significant challenges the UK faces in managing illegal immigration from these regions.
In 2023, the UK issued 250,000 visas to Indian citizens for work, study, and tourism purposes. While this reflects strong bilateral relations between the two nations, Jenrick pointed out that the UK has struggled to effectively repatriate illegal immigrants. "Returns remain stuck in the hundreds," Jenrick remarked, highlighting the disproportionate number of visas granted compared to the relatively low number of deportations.
In response to the ongoing issue of illegal immigration, Jenrick has outlined a comprehensive five-point plan aimed at significantly increasing deportations. His plan calls for a fivefold increase in the number of illegal residents being removed from the UK, with a target of exceeding 100,000 deportations annually.
Jenrick’s tough stance on illegal immigration is evident in his statement: “It is time to play hardball with these countries and refuse to issue visas until they agree to take back their citizens who are living illegally in the UK.”
Jenrick’s proposal is grounded in a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK and India, which was intended to facilitate the repatriation of Indian nationals living illegally in Britain. However, despite this agreement, figures from 2023 show that only 22,807 illegal migrants were deported from the UK. Indian nationals made up roughly 15% of this total, illustrating the challenges the UK faces in successfully implementing the MoU.
As part of his immigration strategy, Robert Jenrick has also advocated for making visa issuance and foreign aid conditional on countries' cooperation in accepting deported nationals. He specifically referenced Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan as nations that benefit from substantial UK aid while failing to engage in effective return strategies. Jenrick emphasized, “The government must stop other countries exploiting our generosity.”
His plan also includes designating Vietnam, Turkey, and Brazil as safe countries, arguing that this would expedite negotiations and repatriation processes. Jenrick described these countries as “holiday destinations, not war-torn hellholes,” implying that there should be fewer barriers to sending illegal migrants back to these regions.
In his broader immigration reform strategy, Jenrick proposed that the UK should consider withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He believes this move would streamline deportations, particularly for foreign offenders, by removing the legal obstacles that sometimes delay or block the deportation process.
Robert Jenrick’s proposed immigration plan, centered around visa restrictions and a fivefold increase in deportations, marks a significant escalation in the UK’s efforts to tackle illegal immigration. By linking visa issuance and foreign aid to the cooperation of countries in accepting their illegal nationals, Jenrick is taking a firm stance on immigration reform.
His call for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) reflects his desire to streamline deportations and close legal loopholes that complicate the process.
While the focus is on nations like India, Vietnam, and other countries receiving UK aid, Jenrick’s approach could have broader implications for international relations and the future of the UK's immigration policy. Whether or not this tough stance will win him support within the Conservative Party remains to be seen, but it is clear that immigration is set to be a key issue in the leadership race to replace Rishi Sunak.
The challenge will be balancing the UK's global relationships with the need for domestic immigration control, all while maintaining the nation's long-standing diplomatic ties.