London's asylum battle

Heavy penalties for illegal work and harboring

While the ratification of the controversial asylum pact with Rwanda continues to be delayed, the British government is not standing idle on other fronts in its fight against illegal immigration. Recently, fines for illegal employment and harboring of illegal immigrants have been drastically increased.

Since Tuesday, anyone who takes someone into their home without a residence permit must pay 5000 pounds (around 5900 euros) per person - previously it was 80 pounds (around 94 euros). Renters will now have to pay 10,000 pounds (around 12,000 euros) instead of 1000 pounds (around 1800 euros). The fine doubles for repeated violations. Employers will also have to pay significantly more than before if they hire people without the necessary papers - 45,000 instead of 15,000 pounds per person and 60,000 pounds in the event of a repeat offense. 

London: "Business model of evil people smugglers"
"We are making great progress in destroying the business model of evil people smugglers," said Home Secretary Michael Tomlinson on Tuesday. "But fraudulent employers and landlords who willingly allow illegal immigrants to work for them and rent their properties are undermining our efforts." This is an affront to honest, hard-working people, he said.

The recent sharp rise in migration is one of the most important issues for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party ahead of this year's general election. 

Asylum pact with Rwanda: resistance in the British parliament
Sunak also wants to finalize one of the most important projects by then: Irregular migrants are to be deported to Rwanda regardless of their personal circumstances. The corresponding law, which aims to declare the East African country a safe third country despite warnings from human rights activists, was passed in the House of Commons with a government majority. However, there is a threat of resistance in the House of Lords.