Labour run Plymouth City Council has sparked outrage after publishing controversial new guidance on illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.
The guidance, which can be accessed on the council's website, claims that 'there is no such thing as an illegal immigrant'.
But is there such a term as 'illegal immigrant'?
You hear the phrase all the time in conversations across the city, from the Hoe to the city centre: 'illegal immigration'. It's a term that dominates national headlines and sparks heated debate locally - especially following recent council debates on asylum hotels and protests outside the council's headquarters.
The main piece of legislation that tackles illegal immigration is the Immigration Act 1971. In simple terms, this long-standing law makes it a criminal offence for someone to knowingly enter the UK without permission, or to stay here longer than their visa or permit allows. This is the legal foundation for why someone might be considered an 'illegal immigrant.'
More recently, you’ll have seen the Illegal Migration Act 2023 in the news, often in relation to the small boat crossings in the Channel. This new law was designed specifically to give the government stronger powers to detain and remove people who arrive in the UK through these unauthorised routes, and it severely limits their ability to claim asylum here.
There has been a noticeable shift away from using the term 'illegal.' Many official bodies, charities, and even the government itself are now more likely to use phrases like 'irregular migrant' or 'undocumented migrant.'
While you won’t find a single, neat definition of 'illegal immigration', it is a general term used to describe actions in breach of the UK's complex immigration rules.
While Plymouth City Council's guidance goes on to acknowledge that illegal immigration is difficult to define and currently being used in relation to channel crossings. However, their guidance also appears to reduce a real issue down to language and semantics.
Recent polling has shown that immigration is now the top issue concerning British voters. Many residents are questioning why the council is devoting resources to rebutting language used by most Janners and why they are so dismissive of illegal immigration.
Sign up for free below to get notified with all the latest breaking news from Plymouth Plus.
