UK Home Secretary Acknowledges Lessons from Greece on Asylum Seeker Deterrence

Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, acknowledged that there is much to be learned from Greece regarding their effective measures to reduce the number of asylum seekers reaching their shores through unauthorized routes.

However, she emphasized that this did not imply the possibility of employing the tactic of pushing back migrant boats in the English Channel, a method that has reportedly been utilized by Athens in the Mediterranean.

While on a visit to the island of Samos in the Aegean Sea, Braverman commended the Greek authorities and government for their successful approach to tackling illegal migration. She highlighted the significant reduction in the number of illegal arrivals, which plummeted by over 95% since 2015 when around a million asylum seekers were recorded.

The Home Secretary emphasized that the Greek strategy focused on deterrence, employing tough and bold measures to convey the message that illegal arrivals would not be tolerated. Despite reports of asylum seekers being forcibly turned back at sea by Greek authorities in the Mediterranean, Braverman clarified that such practices were not under consideration for the English Channel.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made it one of his top priorities to prevent small boats carrying asylum seekers from reaching British shores. However, official UK government figures show that nearly 26,700 migrants have arrived in the country via the English Channel since the beginning of the year.

The Illegal Migration Act, which endorses the government’s policy of sending those arriving by small boats to Rwanda, is awaiting a judgment from the Supreme Court to determine its legality. Braverman indicated that it is currently impossible to predict a specific timeline for deportation flights should the Rwanda plan receive approval.

During her visit to Greece, the Home Secretary engaged with the Greek coastguard and observed their efforts to combat illegal migration. The principle of deterrence emerged as a shared priority, emphasizing the need to prevent individuals attempting to enter the UK illegally from embarking on such journeys in the first place.