UK Set to Swiftly Deport Vietnamese Arrivals via Irregular Means in New Deal with Vietnam
The UK government has announced a new agreement with Vietnam that will see Vietnamese arrivals in the country by irregular means fast-tracked for deportation. According to Downing Street, this move aims to cut through bureaucratic red tape and expedite the removal of those who have no right to be in the UK.
In recent months, there has been a surge in clandestine arrivals from Vietnam, with statistics showing that Vietnamese nationals made up 20% of all small boat arrivals in April alone. This represents a 10-fold increase compared to the same period last year and highlights concerns about human trafficking and modern slavery.
The new agreement is touted as the "strongest" deal that Vietnam's government has agreed on migration, with the potential to return four times more Vietnamese nationals without grounds for stay in the UK. To achieve this, the measure will simplify the document processing process by 75% for cases with supporting evidence, and almost 90% overall.
The agreement includes a commitment to intensified cooperation between the two countries to dismantle immigration crime networks and the use of biometric data sharing to aid in identification. This move is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of those affected, particularly vulnerable individuals who are at risk of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the agreement alongside To Lam, Vietnam's general secretary, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The deal has been welcomed by Starmer, who stated that it sends a clear message: "if you come to the UK illegally, you will be swiftly returned."
However, critics have raised concerns about human rights abuses in Vietnam and the UK's track record on deportation. Human Rights Watch has identified over 170 political prisoners in Vietnam, while the BBC has highlighted cases of Vietnamese nationals being unable to leave the country due to visa issues.
As the UK government pushes forward with this new agreement, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in tackling irregular migration and protecting vulnerable individuals.
The UK government has announced a new agreement with Vietnam that will see Vietnamese arrivals in the country by irregular means fast-tracked for deportation. According to Downing Street, this move aims to cut through bureaucratic red tape and expedite the removal of those who have no right to be in the UK.
In recent months, there has been a surge in clandestine arrivals from Vietnam, with statistics showing that Vietnamese nationals made up 20% of all small boat arrivals in April alone. This represents a 10-fold increase compared to the same period last year and highlights concerns about human trafficking and modern slavery.
The new agreement is touted as the "strongest" deal that Vietnam's government has agreed on migration, with the potential to return four times more Vietnamese nationals without grounds for stay in the UK. To achieve this, the measure will simplify the document processing process by 75% for cases with supporting evidence, and almost 90% overall.
The agreement includes a commitment to intensified cooperation between the two countries to dismantle immigration crime networks and the use of biometric data sharing to aid in identification. This move is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of those affected, particularly vulnerable individuals who are at risk of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the agreement alongside To Lam, Vietnam's general secretary, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The deal has been welcomed by Starmer, who stated that it sends a clear message: "if you come to the UK illegally, you will be swiftly returned."
However, critics have raised concerns about human rights abuses in Vietnam and the UK's track record on deportation. Human Rights Watch has identified over 170 political prisoners in Vietnam, while the BBC has highlighted cases of Vietnamese nationals being unable to leave the country due to visa issues.
As the UK government pushes forward with this new agreement, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in tackling irregular migration and protecting vulnerable individuals.