The Home Secretary's strong action to tackle both legal and
illegal migration is working and delivering progress, as data
reveals a dramatic drop in visa numbers, whilst the first flights
to Rwanda draw closer as the first cohort of illegal migrants to
be removed are detained.
New monthly visa statistics revealed that the Home Secretary's
comprehensive reforms to address unsustainable levels of legal
migration are already starting to have a decisive impact. Visa
applications across key routes affected by the changes fell by
24% in the first 3 months of 2024, compared with the same period
last year.
This comes as the government has moved quickly to operationalise
its landmark policy to stop the boats and deter migrants making
perilous and illegal journeys across the channel. The first group
of migrants set for removal to Rwanda are being detained
following a series of Immigration Enforcement operations across
the country, whilst the first migrant to arrive in Rwanda through
the voluntary scheme was successfully relocated.
Meanwhile, leading food delivery companies have agreed to
introduce enhanced security checks on their apps to prevent the
market being abused by illegal workers, following a series of
discussions with ministers and officials across government.
Home Secretary, , said:
Across the board our plan is working - we are delivering a fairer
and stronger immigration system.
Legal migration reached grossly unsustainable levels, but we
worked quickly to implement the changes I brought forward last
year. The early signs show strong progress, and numbers will
continue to fall.
And our partnership with Rwanda is moving forward at great speed.
We must deter those risking their lives in the channel, and this
week we have shown that we mean it when we say you will be
detained and removed if you come here illegally.
Migration is a global issue, but the UK stands at the forefront
of the response and we're tackling it head on. With robust,
innovative, and unrelenting action, we are delivering as
promised.
New monthly visa statistics show falling numbers across Skilled
Worker, Health and Care, and Study visa routes. This includes, in
the first 3 months of the year, the number of student dependants
fell by almost 80% compared to the same period last year, after a
restriction was placed on most postgraduate students bringing
family with them from January.
Later this month, the Migration Advisory Committee will complete
their rapid review of the Graduate Route as part of the
government's plan to protect the integrity and quality of UK
higher education and ensure it works in the best interests of the
UK. The committee's findings will be considered closely and the
government will act if change is necessary.
The government's full plan to cut legal migration would mean
300,000 who arrived last year would be unable to do so under the
new rules and new monthly statistics will allow the public to see
the impact of the full set of measures.
Following the passage into law of the Safety of Rwanda Act and
the ratification of the Treaty with Rwanda, the Home Office has
moved quickly to arrest and detain the initial cohort of migrants
to be removed. Preparations are now being made to safely remove
them to Rwanda where they can start rebuilding their lives, with
a flight set to take off within 9 to 11 weeks.
Under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership the
government is now also able to send those with no right to remain
in the UK to Rwanda under the voluntary removals route, the first
individual has been successfully relocated and is being fully
supported.
As part of the government's wider efforts to tackle and deter
illegal migration, including cracking down on incentives to cross
the channel, Minister , the Minister for
Countering Illegal Migration, and Minister , the Minister for
Business and Trade, met with representatives
from Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. All 3 companies
agreed to enhanced security checks on their apps to prevent
account sharing by those looking for work who have no right to be
in the UK.
They will now change their processes to ensure substitute riders
are working in the UK legally and that right to work checks will
be carried out, helping to protect the economy and legitimate
workers.
Progress demonstrated comes as the government's wider plan to
tackle illegal migration continues to deliver. In 2023, small
boat crossing fell by a third on the previous year whilst
enforcement visits rose by 49% and arrests more than doubled.
Returns of those with no right to be in the UK increased by
two-thirds.
