Illegal Migrants Unknown Whereabouts 2025-12-09

Opened the debate

The scale of illegal immigration and its impact on our country is simply not understood in this Parliament. British people are genuinely scared—women fear going into their towns alone, parents worry about letting their children walk to school due to the radical change communities face, feeling unfamiliar and dangerous because of these migrants. The Home Office conceals the true extent of illegal immigration from citizens. Rupert Lowe cited two recent cases involving Afghan illegal migrants raping a young girl and an Iranian migrant assaulting a 15-year-old girl, highlighting how women and girls are less safe today than five years ago. He questioned why such individuals were not detained or deported but instead housed and fed at taxpayer expense, leading to thousands roaming freely without being vetted properly. Rupert Lowe has asked over 600 questions of the Home Office about illegal migrants but received very few answers, often citing 'no data' or 'disproportionate costs'. He revealed that whistleblowers within the Home Office presented figures showing there are 736 foreign criminals and 53,298 illegal migrants who have absconded. The MP asked for transparency in publishing these figures regularly to address this national security emergency.

Government Response

The minister's response was not included in the given text. The debate ended abruptly with Madam Deputy Speaker questioning whether Rupert Lowe had finished speaking, and no Minister responded to address the points raised by the lead MP. The Government is determined to tackle illegal migration and ensure that anyone who comes to this country illegally does not expect to stay. Removals have increased by 23% since July 2024 with almost 50,000 people returned. Deportations of foreign criminals have also significantly increased. The Home Office has ramped up enforcement activity against criminal gangs and illegal working, resulting in record-breaking levels of visits and arrests. The Minister acknowledged the significant challenges inherited from previous administrations and highlighted efforts to close asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament. He emphasised that while costs are a concern, restoring control over the asylum system is paramount. The UK-France agreement has strengthened the ability to return individuals to France. Regarding absconders, the Minister explained that an individual granted immigration bail may be required to reside at a specified address and report regularly. If someone fails to comply, efforts will be made to re-establish contact using various methods including visits from enforcement teams and electronic tracking devices. The Home Office works with police and other agencies to locate individuals who abscond. The Minister also addressed the accuracy of figures provided by the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth, stating that unverified leaks would not be commented upon. He acknowledged the need for clearer definitions in departmental policy regarding the status of absconder markers. On published figures, the Minister noted that the Government is unable to provide a current number of illegal migrants whose whereabouts are unknown due to lack of robust data from operational databases.