Today, I announced that there will be NO ASYLUM SYSTEM under a Reform government. It will be suspended.
Since 2000, we have granted legions of people asylum. Whilst some fled persecution, many have scammed Britain.
They came illegally - by lorry or boat, or by overstaying their visa. And then claimed asylum. Most have received hundreds of thousands of pounds in benefits and state support whilst here - NHS, dental care, food, hotels, HMOs, and welfare.
Terrorists, murderers and rapists have broken in. It is a national security emergency.
Successive Prime Ministers have betrayed our country by failing to stop this.
As Prime Minister, I will end the scam.
But what we've set out today goes beyond this.
The scale of the betrayal is so great a major response is needed. That’s why Zia and I gave more detail on Operation Restoring Justice today.
All of the Tories' and Labour's immigration schemes - Afghanistan, Palestine - will immediately be closed.
Every asylum grant given in the prior 5 years will be reviewed. Those who came illegally, or from a safe country, will have their asylum grant revoked and be deported.
Countries that refuse to take back their illegal migrants and criminals will face visa bans, sanctions, and tariffs.
The few who genuinely cannot go back to their home country will go to safe third countries we strike deals with.
We will review everyone granted asylum under the ludicrously suppressed Afghanistan schemes. Those who directly helped our armed forces in combat will keep their asylum grant. That’s only right.
But all the others will have to leave. If Afghanistan won't take them back, we will strike deals with safe third countries to do so.
All foreign nationals convicted of crime will be deported.
All migrant welfare will end. All the loopholes will be closed.
And we will make it IMPOSSIBLE to live in Britain illegally.
We'll massively hike penalties for landlords renting to, and businesses employing, illegal migrants.
And we'll enable and encourage all parts of local government to conduct migration checks - housing, trading standards, environmental health, and licensing. This will mean 10 times more migration enforcement capacity.
And, critically, councils will be allowed to KEEP the fines on landlords and employers they levy.
Councils will then have a huge incentive to identify illegal migrants and send the data to Deportation Command, who will oversee the exit of these illegal migrants from Britain. Councils will therefore be incentivised to hire more officials, identify more illegal migrants, and levy more fines.
This will make it impossible to live in Britain illegally, let alone thrive. Illegal migrants won't be able to rent or work, and certainly not get welfare.
Hundreds of thousands will voluntarily leave. And we will enforce the deportation of everyone illegally here who doesn't.
All in all, this plan will see well over a million people who are here illegally (or who came here illegally) leave Britain.
It will restore justice.
