Select a region
A “Rwanda scheme” in the Channel Islands would be the answer to the UK’s difficulties with illegal immigration – listeners to a radio show that attracts around 1m listeners were told last week.
Speaking during Shelagh Fogarty’s LBC prime-time afternoon slot, caller John from Reading listed Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Scottish islands as possible locations to send “illegal immigrants”.
Should they be successful in making an asylum claim, he said they should be able to set up a permanent base on the islands – but not in the UK.
The plan, he said, should be put to a referendum with the question: "Do you want the British government to force the boats back to France or to set up camps in the British islands...and if it's unsuccessful they'll get deported back to their home country and if it's successful they'll stay on that island? Or do you want the government to continue allowing illegal immigration?"
LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel Islands are the answer to illegal immigration.https://t.co/Y6Ccldh0QU
— LBC (@LBC) January 18, 2024
But Shelagh picked holes in the argument that even successful claimants shouldn’t be allowed on the mainland, noting that the islands were part of Great Britain.
She also explained that anyone that gets refugee status is not “illegal”.
The exchange came as the Rwanda Bill passed its final hurdle in the House of Commons.
It’s not the first time the islands have been offered up as a solution to the UK's immigration challenges.
Influential Conservative thinktank Policy Exchange said in early 2022 that the Channel Islands should be considered as a location for an offshore processing centre for migrants who try to cross the Channel in small boats.
They said that joint UK-EU patrols in the Channel would be the “best possible response to the problem of small-boats arrivals” and that “immediate return to France is the best policy, if available.”
However, should agreement with France not be reached (“Plan A”), migrants should instead be removed to a British territory overseas and processed in a specially built centre (“Plan B”) – with the frontrunner location being Alderney.
Pictured: Policy Exchange's 'Plan B' report suggested that Alderney would be the most appropriate of the Channel Islands for a migrant processing centre.
The report’s publication prompted strong criticism at the time, particularly from States of Alderney representatives.
Later that year, it was reported that Suella Braverman had tasked UK Home Office officials with studying that report shortly before she was forced to resign as Home Secretary.
Jersey’s involvement in ‘small boat crossing’ events has been limited.
The most recent incident was in July 2021, when a group of nearly 30 migrants – including 10 children – had to be rescued in the early morning after their boat ran out of fuel near Jersey. The group alerted the French coastal rescue authority when their six-metre vessel ran into difficulties 33km off Saint Malo, where they were returned to.
A man was arrested on suspicion of trafficking days later.
Meanwhile, a man was this month jailed in Guernsey for helping three Albanians enter Guernsey illegally by boat – with a view to them using the island as a ‘back door’ to the UK.
Claim that Braverman asked officials to consider Alderney migrant centre report
Thinktank proposes Channel Islands for migrant processing centre
Proposals on asylum seekers raise questions of “values and humanity"
Migrants on boat to Jersey rescued after fuel shortage
WATCH: Suspected trafficker arrested after migrant boat breakdown near Minquiers
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.