Latest news with #illegalcrossings
Fox News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump's border crackdown brings 'positive shift' to Arizona communities after years of upheaval
Residents of southern Arizona report that President Donald Trump's border crackdown has significantly reduced illegal crossings and fostered a "positive shift" among local communities. "The whole thing has shifted in a positive direction," said Dave, a resident of Tubac, Arizona, during an interview with Fox News Digital. "I think a lot more could be done. I believe that Border Patrol, Customs, and all the other personnel could use a boost in hiring — I've always thought that. But yes, you can see a difference, and people are more relaxed," he continued. Dave mentioned that his son, currently working as a Border Patrol agent, has observed a sharp decline in the number of migrants that federal law enforcement has to apprehend, monitor, and release. He also noted a decrease in break-ins at small businesses and incidents of trespassing since Trump assumed office. Other residents browsing the shops in Tubac on a warm spring afternoon shared similar sentiments. They told Fox News Digital that there is now a greater law enforcement presence along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the White House, as of April 28 this year, illegal border crossings are down by 95% compared to numbers under the Biden administration. A Tubac resident named Matt supported this assessment and praised the Trump administration for completing unfinished sections of the border wall. "They're not babysitting anymore or processing people. We had a checkpoint up here that they closed for a time just to redeploy Border Patrol agents to process the illegals coming in. That's stopped — so it's a huge difference," he added. A nearby business owner named Mark offered a more measured response. He noted that Tubac has historically been relatively insulated from border activity, but he acknowledged seeing a slight slowdown since March. However, not everyone supported Trump's immigration policies. Vinyas, a student at the University of Arizona in Tucson, told Fox News Digital that his close circle of friends is "pretty upset" by the new administration's actions. "There's a lot of concern about immigration. Even my friends who've been here a while but aren't citizens are a little worried. Some of my friends who go to other schools that are being cracked down on by the administration are also concerned," Vinyas said. Another Tucson resident, Aditya, noted that although the area is home to many migrants, he feels safe and hasn't noticed any significant changes in overall crime. "They're trying to clean up the system as they understand it — as they perceive it — and I think that's fair. But when you do something on a large scale, it's never perfect," he said of the Trump administration.
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
We'll never stop the boats coming if we don't smash the black economy
In the reporting on this week's migration agreement between France and the UK, most of the focus has been on the 'one in, one out' deal between the countries. Britain will send back 50 illegal arrivals a week, in exchange for 50 other migrants who have applied via a French scheme. The idea is that being sent straight back to France will deter migrants from making the journey, and that Sir Kier Starmer will be able to announce that he has 'stopped the boats'. In reality, of course, this will make no real difference to the situation. In the past week, almost 1,100 migrants crossed the Channel. Given the opportunity to be housed, clothed and fed for free, and potentially granted asylum and ultimately the right to housing, health care, education and benefits, a less than one in 20 chance of being sent back to France will not stop the illegal crossings. Sir Keir and Mr Macron know this. The French president spoke about the British Government's 'mobilisation to deal with the pull factors for irregular migrants, including the fight against illegal work'. How real is this commitment? The Home Office insists that in the last year, 'immigration enforcement has increased illegal working activity by 51 per cent' and it is promising 'new biometric kits' for these teams so that it can conduct on-the-spot right to work checks. What actually happens when illegal workers are caught? Under the 1971 Immigration Act they can be sentenced to a maximum of six months imprisonment. However, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance says that they would almost never prosecute, instead seeking to remove an illegal worker from the UK. The CPS does not publish any data on how many people it prosecutes for working illegally. For asylum seekers even the threat of deportation does not exist. This week, an immigration officer told a journalist that working illegally does not hurt an asylum seeker's claim. This is correct. Under the law, only someone classed as a 'serious criminal', and jailed for at least 12 months is at risk of their claim being rejected as a result. The gig economy is often linked to illegal working. Chris Philp,the shadow home secretary, visited a migrant hotel, in June, and found 'clear evidence of illegal working for Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats '. These businesses insist they are doing everything possible, and going beyond their legal obligations in checking documents. But if this is true, how can it be that social media is awash with opportunities to loan or buy delivery accounts? Meanwhile, the Government has introduced new penalties for companies employing illegal staff, including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, business closures and even the threat of imprisonment for directors. Unfortunately all these efforts are only likely to scratch the surface of the problem. There may have been over 7,000 arrests of illegal workers in the last 12 months, but with a 2020 study estimating that 800,000 to 1.2 million people were living in the UK, none of whom are entitled to benefits, it is reasonable to believe that illegal workers number in at least the high hundreds of thousands. Even if the Home Office managed to double, or triple the number of annual arrests it would not begin to stop illegal working. Ultimately, immigration enforcement is like 'stopping the boats'. It does nothing about pull factors. Arrest some workers, fine some cash-in-hand businesses, maybe even jail the occasional director, if we can find the room. The shadow economy rolls on. These illegal workers, on delivery bikes, at car washes, or elsewhere in the gig economy, are working to feed our hunger. We love the convenience of restaurant food on demand, cheap fruit or a cheap car wash. All these conveniences are reliant on a vast population of illegal workers and while that demand exists they will keep coming. Large-scale gig economy businesses are perfect for the government. The corporate business receives legitimate revenues and pays taxes, meanwhile the illegal workers operate at arms length, keeping costs down. To solve this, rather than fiddling around the edges with enforcement and checks, we need to stop using those businesses and industries which are clearly intimately connected with illegal work, and should demand that the government closes businesses, which require illegal staff to operate.
Washington Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
U.K. and France agree to swap migrants in ‘one in, one out' deal
Britain and France have struck a deal that will enable both countries to exchange migrants as part of a plan to deter illegal crossings by boat, the leaders of both countries announced Thursday. Every year, thousands of migrants attempt to enter Britain from France by crossing the English Channel in small boats, a dangerous practice that left at least 82 dead last year.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Press conference in full: Starmer and Macron unveil migrant return deal after crunch talks
Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron announce a migrant return deal with France intended to tackle illegal crossings over the Channel. The prime minister said the UK would tackle illegal migration with 'new tactics' and a 'new level of intent' before the pair held crunch talks to hammer out a deal. Sir Keir told a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron: 'In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route, controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally. 'This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain, and the jobs they have been promised in the UK will no longer exist because of the nationwide crackdown we're delivering on illegal working which is on a completely unprecedented scale. 'The president and I have agreed that this pilot will be implemented in the coming weeks.' Before Sir Keir and Mr Macron were due to speak, the UK coastguard tackled 'multiple incidents involving small boats' in the English Channel. UK Border Force vessels raced out on Thursday morning to intercept several small boats crossing the Channel, the coastguard said.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Watch live: Starmer and Macron to unveil migrant return deal after crunch talks
Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce a migrant return deal with France intended to tackle illegal crossings over the Channel. The prime minister said the UK would tackle illegal migration with 'new tactics' and a 'new level of intent' before the pair held crunch talks to hammer out a deal. At the start of a Franco-British summit at Downing Street, the French president said the UK and France 'share the same will' to address the issue. The pair have said a 'new deterrent' is needed to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. On the last day of Mr Macron's state visit, the PM hopes the French president will sign up to a 'one in, one out' deal, under which Britain would accept migrants with links to the country in exchange for sending others back across the Channel. Before Sir Keir and Mr Macron were due to speak, the UK coastguard tackled 'multiple incidents involving small boats' in the English Channel. UK Border Force vessels raced out on Thursday morning to intercept several small boats crossing the Channel, the coastguard said.
