British government strives to solve immigration problem

image (13) — Migrants rescued in distress in the English Channel. (PA Photo)

In order to increase public trust and support, the British government recently announced a roadmap to strongly reform the asylum regime, aiming to reduce the flow of illegal immigrants to the UK through the "deadly Channel" of the English Channel.

The English Channel, which connects France and the UK, regularly sees migrants die on their journey to the “promised land”. From the beginning of the year to mid-November 2025, more than 39,000 migrants risked their lives crossing the Channel in small, rickety boats to reach the UK, an increase of 19% compared to the same period in 2024. On November 8, 2025 alone, 503 migrants arrived in the UK on seven small boats, equivalent to more than 70 people per boat.

From the beginning of the year to mid-November 2025, more than 39,000 migrants risked the dangerous journey across the Channel in small, rickety boats to reach the UK, up 19% compared to the same period in 2024. On November 8, 2025 alone, 503 migrants arrived in the UK in seven small boats, equivalent to more than 70 people per boat.

The migration issue is one of the top concerns for the British Government, although the government has implemented many strong measures to "crush" the activities of human trafficking gangs. Accordingly, all cases related to human trafficking and illegal immigration, from providing boats to making fake passports, face the risk of having their assets frozen and being banned from accessing the financial system of the Foggy Land.

In mid-November 2025, for the first time, the British Government deployed modern aircraft to patrol the English Channel, to detect migrants illegally crossing the sea in small boats from France at night. With advanced radar systems, cameras, optical sensors..., the aircraft can identify boat operators, often the leaders of human trafficking rings.

Political pressure is mounting on the Labour government, as the anti-immigration Reform UK party enjoys a significant lead in recent opinion polls.

Tensions have risen as anti-immigration protests have erupted in the UK, forcing the government to speed up efforts to address the immigration issue that has been causing public concern, in order to increase public trust and support for the government. The UK has just taken a remarkable step by comprehensively reforming the immigration system.

The Home Office said these were the most far-reaching reforms yet to address the factors that make Britain an attractive destination for asylum seekers, helping to tackle illegal migration. Under the UK's reform plan, asylum seekers would only be granted temporary status and would be assessed every 30 months. Refugees could be deported as soon as it was determined that their home country was safe to return.

Asylum seekers will have to wait 20 years before they are eligible for permanent residence, instead of five. Those who arrive in the UK safely and legally and are proven to have made a significant contribution to society can be considered earlier. British media reported that the reforms were “inspired” by the Danish model, which deports up to 95% of unsuccessful asylum seekers.

The Home Office chief said the government's lenient approach to allowing migrants to stay and systemic problems had made the deportation process difficult. However, the government's reforms have faced opposition from charities and some MPs, who say they could strip asylum seekers who have settled in the UK of their residency rights.

In fact, dealing with the migration issue has never been easy for Europe in general, which has long been considered a "promised land" for migrants and the UK in particular, especially in the context of the spiral of fierce conflicts in many regions of the world that shows no signs of abating.

Measures to solve the thorny migration problem, including the deportation of refugees, need to be carefully considered and calculated, and priority should be given to ensuring the safety of migrants, because behind each decision lies the fate of a person and a family.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/chinh-phu-anh-no-luc-giai-bai-toan-di-cu-408572.html