London – Al-Yurae:
Britain has announced the expansion of its domestic and international campaign to stop the flow of illegal immigration and foreign residents living irregularly, as part of efforts to combat irregular migration. The new measures include training 9,000 employees at major airlines in 39 countries to monitor arrivals to Britain and scrutinize their visas, especially through routes known for refugee flows such as Albania, Italy, Greece, and Malta.
The British government has also expanded the scope of the visa registry and the electronic residency register to include all residents, making access to services, rentals, benefits, and healthcare and social care conditional upon officially registering their data. This comes as part of a comprehensive government strategy to enhance cooperation with the private sector to combat irregular migration and secure Britain’s borders.
The scope of the visa registry and the electronic residency register for foreigners has also been expanded, which will be used by airlines. The electronic register, which specifies types of visas and residency statuses domestically, will be broadened to include all residents, allowing them to receive services, rent properties, and access benefits and social and health care.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said after announcing the new plans to stop illegal migrants: “We are sending a clear message: air travel simply isn’t an option without the necessary authorization and registration. Our borders have become more secure, digitalized, and efficient.”
The implementation of these measures is part of a comprehensive government strategy in Britain to ensure collaboration with the private sector to combat irregular migration and protect British borders.
In this context, a spokesperson for British Airways said:
“For us as an airline, this type of information is extremely important, as it guides us on how to deal with travelers while complying with British laws.”
The British Foreign Secretary also emphasized that international cooperation is a cornerstone of the government’s approach to combating irregular migration, noting that close collaboration with countries of origin has resulted in the return of about 30,000 people during the current government’s term, including a 23% increase in forced deportations and a 14% increase in the deportation of foreign criminals since the elections. Britain has also carried out four of the largest deportation flights in its history, returning migrants to countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Significant Concerns Among Residents in Britain
A number of foreign residents in Britain told “Al-Yara’a” that airlines tightening visa checks for travelers to Britain is not new, but the introduction of electronic visas and the digital residency register will have a significant impact on the number of irregular residents, refugees, and people who lack documentation or find it difficult to obtain. Some pointed out that the decision to ban transit flights is also old and has led to a significant increase in travel costs, with travelers seeking cheaper options facing increasing difficulties due to the suspension of these flights at several international transit hubs. They added that several countries have imposed high-priced and strict transit visas, and have even created white and black lists to determine who is allowed to use their airports, which has negatively affected citizens of many countries who travel legally. Some residents also expressed concerns about future uses of the electronic residency register that may exceed international laws and norms by far-right governments.
