Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illegal Migrants: Pull Factors

Monday 9 February 2026 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is making refugee status temporary and increasing removal rates.
  • Government plans to redouble efforts against illegal working and trading.
  • Home Secretary focuses on record removals without armed immigration enforcement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

Asylum claims are falling across Europe but rising in the UK, creating a pull factor for illegal migration.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to reduce pull factors for migrants seeking to arrive in the UK illegally. I am concerned about asylum permanence and the ability of immigrants to enter an illegal economy.

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

We are making refugee status temporary, increasing immigration raids to record levels, and improving removal rates by about a quarter under this Government.

Partly answered

How: Hedging Language

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Q2 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Immigration Employment Business Compliance
Context

Dodgy shops in Carlisle are linked to illegal immigration, illegal working, and trading standards issues.

Question

Illegal immigration, illegal working and illegal trading frequently go hand in hand. While I welcome the shop raids last summer, without tackling illegality at source, the police and trading standards face a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Will the Minister redouble efforts to clamp down on both illegal immigration and illegal working?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

I can assure my hon. Friend that this Government will redouble its efforts, with an 83% rise in the number of illegal-working arrests since we came to power and plans for further action in the year ahead.

Answered
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Q3 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

People's sense of despair over the failure to deal with illegal migrants is driving them mad.

Question

The false narrative that Britain is broken due to illegal migrants is causing public distress. Arresting, detaining, and deporting anyone who arrives illegally would be necessary, even if it means derogating from conventions. What message does this send?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

I point out that in 14 years under his party in government, no such action was taken. There is no silver bullet, but we are changing human rights laws, passing legislation on article 8 application, reforming appeals processes, and increasing illegal working raids.

Not addressed: The specific ask to derogate from conventions

How: Changing The Subject

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Q4 Katie Lam Con Weald of Kent
Immigration Business Compliance
Context

Companies abusing the work visa system continue to sponsor visas despite government promises.

Question

Last week, The Times reported that companies previously abusing the work visa system are allowed to continue sponsoring visas. What message does this send to companies breaking rules?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

1,000 sponsor licences have been revoked since we closed the social care route in government. We are already following up on the newspaper investigation and will continue to revoke licences for illegitimate businesses.

Answered
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Q5 Max Wilkinson Lib Dem Cheltenham
Immigration
Context

President Trump's ICE squads are engaging in harsh treatment of immigrants, including infants and children.

Question

The Conservatives have suggested introducing a removals force like ICE. Will the Home Secretary condemn ICE and reassure that we will not see such units on British streets?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

Unlike those worried about America, I focus on protecting people here. We already have record removals without armed immigration enforcement—just under 60,000 since we came to power—and will go further within British values.

Not addressed: The specific ask for a condemnation of ICE and assurance against similar units

How: Changing The Subject

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