New offence to criminalise online migrant boats ads
Summary
The UK government plans to make it a crime to advertise illegal crossings of migrants by small boats online. This new offence is part of a larger strategy to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the UK illegally. The law seeks to target people-smuggling gangs that promote illegal immigration on social media.Key Facts
- The UK government wants to create a new offence under the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill.
- This offence would criminalise online advertisements promoting illegal immigration into the UK.
- People breaking this law could face up to five years in prison and large fines.
- Over 25,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by small boats in 2025 so far.
- The Home Office found that 80% of these migrants used social media to contact smugglers.
- The National Crime Agency already works with social media companies to remove illegal posts and has taken down more than 8,000 posts in 2024.
- The law aims to hold accountable those involved in people-smuggling abroad if they later come to the UK.
- A deal between the UK and France involves sending some migrants back in exchange for taking others with family connections to the UK.
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