Illegal immigration to the United Kingdom – Wikipedia
Although it is difficult to measure how many people reside in the UK without authorisation, a Home Office study based on Census 2001 data released in March 2005 estimated a population of between 310,000 and 570,000.[1] The methods used are also much debated.[2] Problems arise in particular from the very nature of the target population that is hidden and mostly wants to remain as such.[3] The different definitions of illegality adopted in the studies also pose a significant challenge to the comparability of the data.
More recently, a study carried out by a research team at LSE for the Greater London Authority, published in 2009, estimated the illegal migrant population of the UK by updating the Home Office study.[4] The LSE's study takes into account other factors not included in the previous estimate, namely the continued arrival of asylum seekers, the clearance of the asylum applications backlog, further illegal migrants entering and leaving the country, more migrants overstaying, and the regularisation of EU accession citizens.
The most significant change in this estimate is however the inclusion of children born in the UK to illegal immigrants. For the LSE team illegal migrants oscillate between 417,000 and 863,000, including a population of UK-born children ranging between 44,000 and 144,000. Drawing on this and taking stock of the outcome of the recent Case Resolution Programme,[5] a University of Oxford's study by Nando Sigona and Vanessa Hughes estimate at end 2011 a population of illegal migrant children of 120,000, with over half born in the UK to parents residing without legal immigration status.[6]
According to the House of Commons Library, several definitions for a migrant exist in United Kingdom so that a migrant can be:
Illegal immigrants in the UK include those who have:
Migration Watch UK, is a think-tank that claims to be neutral. Migration Watch UK has criticised the Home Office figures for not including the UK-born dependent children of unauthorised migrants. They suggest the Home Office has underestimated the numbers of unauthorised migrants by between 15,000 and 85,000.[11]
Jack Dromey, Deputy General of the Transport and General Workers Union and Labour Party treasurer, suggested in May 2006 that there could be around 500,000 illegal workers. He called for a public debate on whether an amnesty should be considered.[12] Former Home Secretary David Blunkett suggested that this might be done once the identity card scheme is rolled out.[13] However the scheme was scrapped due to its widespread unpopularity by the coalition government in 2010.
London Citizens, a coalition of community organisations, is running a regularisation campaign called Strangers into Citizens, backed by figures including the leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.[14] Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research suggested that an amnesty would net the government up to 1.038 billion per year in fiscal revenue.[15] However, analysis by MigrationWatch UK suggests that if the migrants granted amnesty were given access to healthcare and other benefits, the net cost to the exchequer would be 5.530 billion annually.[16]
It has since been suggested that to deport all of the irregular migrants from the UK would take 20 years and cost up to 12 billion.[17] former Mayor of London Boris Johnson commissioned a study into a possible amnesty for illegal immigrants, citing larger tax gains within the London area which is considered to be home to the majority of the country's population of such immigrants.[18]
In February 2008, the government introduced new 10,000 fines for employers found to be employing illegal immigrants where there is negligence on the part of the employer, with unlimited fines or jail sentences for employers acting knowingly.[19]
In July 2013, the Home Office introduced an advertising lorry in London with its billboard saying "In the UK illegally? GO HOME OR FACE ARREST Text HOME to 78070 for free advice, and help with travel documents. We can help you return home voluntarily without fear of arrest or detention." This campaign was criticised from various quarters: Vince Cable, a prominent minister in the governing coalition, called it "stupid and offensive";[20] some on the left said that "go home" evoked an old National Front slogan.[21] Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party criticised the campaign as "nasty" and suggested that its real message was "Please dont vote UKIP, were doing something".[22]
In 2015 the newly elected Conservative Government announced it would be requiring Landlords to confirm the immigration status of tenants. Those failing to do so, or knowingly or unknowingly housing illegal immigrants could face criminal prosecution.
In 2015 a large number of migrants had set up a camp at Calais in the hope of entering the UK illegally, although there have always been some migrants entering the UK illegally from here many illegal migrants or asylum seekers try to enter the UK from France, by hiding inside trucks or trains and they've done so for years.[23]This sparked a large political debate in the UK. The UK government responded by funding additional security measures in Calais including a 7 million fence to prevent migrants entering the UK.
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Illegal immigration to the United Kingdom - Wikipedia
- Federal agents conduct illegal-immigration hiring raid at northern AZ BBQ chain - The Arizona Republic - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Fmr Biden adviser roasted over NYT illegal immigration op-ed | RISING - The Hill - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- He opposes illegal immigration, but Gely won his heart - The Seattle Times - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration is causing uncertainty, ex-DNC official says - Fox News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- ICE Del Rio, federal partner investigation results in the sentencing of an illegal alien from Honduras for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy -... - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Floridas Bid To Criminalize Illegal Immigration Entry Blocked By Supreme Court, For Now - Tampa Free Press - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- DHS, DOJ Streamline Process for Issuing Fines to Illegal Aliens - Federation for American Immigration Reform - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- He Opposes Illegal Immigration, but Gely Won His Heart - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Wave Of Illegal Immigration Cases Hits Texas, Over 300 Filed In One Week - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Court sees uptick in illegal immigration prosecutions: 'No one feels good in the courtroom.' - Buffalo News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Jerry Shenk: Illegal immigration: Look for the political interest - pottsmerc.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- 'A Horrific Moral Failure': Campaigner Slams Labour And Tories Over Illegal Immigration - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump's remittance tax aims to slow illegal immigration by targeting the money flow - Fox News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- San Antonio man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for transporting 25 illegal aliens inside tanker trailer following ICE Eagle Pass, federal... - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Donald Trump shatters more border records with lowest illegal immigration numbers - Washington Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- We need cooperation between federal and state governments in stopping illegal immigration, expert says - Fox Business - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Weber County OKs accord with feds to help in the fight against illegal immigration - KSL News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trumps remittance tax aims to slow illegal immigration by targeting the money flow - wccsradio.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Weber County OKs accord with feds to help in the fight against illegal immigration - Yahoo News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Social Security insolvency could speed up with illegal immigration crackdown - Fox Business - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Not really our issue: Gulf Shores mayor speaks on illegal immigration raid - fox10tv.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Social Security insolvency could speed up with illegal immigration crackdown - MSN - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- HSI and FBI speak on illegal immigration raid at Gulf Shores High School - fox10tv.com - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Parents share story of loss, fight against illegal immigration at The White House - WCIA.com - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- HSI speaks on Gulf Shores High School illegal immigration raid - WBRC 6 News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
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- Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson talks illegal immigration in Tampa - WMNF 88.5 FM - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- ICE and federal partners arrest 17 illegal aliens during worksite inspection in Bethlehem, Pa. - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- China ready to fight fentanyl, illegal immigration with US: top police chief - South China Morning Post - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- ICE Newark, law enforcement partners arrest illegal alien in New Jersey with extensive criminal history - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
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- The rule of law and the crisis of illegal immigration - Christian Post - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- ICE Philadelphia supports large effort to remove more than 130 illegal aliens from central Asia - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
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- Chairman Arrington Responds to CBO Report on Net Cost of Illegal Immigration - House Budget Committee (.gov) - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
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- Illegal Aliens Use Far More Taxpayer Funds Than They Contribute, CBO Confirms - Federation for American Immigration Reform - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Illegal Immigration, Lawlessness, And The Lefts America - The Daily Wire - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Under Patel, FBI heightens focus on violent crime, illegal immigration. Other threats abound, too - WPLG Local 10 - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Sunny Hostin insists its 'not illegal' to be undocumented during immigration discussion on 'The View' - Fox News - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Will Illegal Immigration Break the Nation Apart? - The Free Press - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Howie Carr: Jailhouse letter speaks volumes on illegal immigration - Boston Herald - June 7th, 2025 [June 7th, 2025]
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- Opinion | Trump might become the most pro-illegal immigration president ever - The Washington Post - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
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- Navy deploys additional warship to curb illegal immigration, drug smuggling at the southern border - Fox News - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]