When this government came to office, Britain’s immigration and asylum systems were broken.
For years, smuggling gangs had been running amok, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk.
Domestically, processes and activities designed to enforce the rules had long since stopped being effective.
This is unacceptable. From day one, this government has been working to end the chaos and fix the foundations of a broken immigration system.
That includes placing a much stronger emphasis on removing those with no right to remain in the UK.
The latest statistics show just how much of an impact that work is having.
Enforced returns are up 30% on the same period last year, and are at their highest level in over five years.
As well as ramping up removals, we have also delivered substantial increases in immigration enforcement activity.
Immigration enforcement raids and the number of arrests for illegal working are up by a third.
But we will not stop there.
The authorities charged with enforcing our immigration laws must have the powers and tools they need to go after people living and working in the UK illegally.
That is why we are this weekend announcing that we’ve invested £8million in new tech, including body-worn cameras and fingerprint kits, to ramp up immigration enforcement operations.
We are also making good progress in our quest to intensify international collaboration.
In recent days, the Home Secretary signed a landmark agreement with her German counterpart to tackle irregular migration.
And in another important development, the Calais Group, which comprises the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, has agreed a new plan to strengthen action against migrant smuggling networks.
As we advance this mission, we cannot afford to be anything other than relentless.
We will keep up the momentum at home through our new Border Security Command, which is backed by £150million in funding.
And we will carry on banging the drum for closer partnerships abroad.
This weekend, the Home Secretary is in Rome to meet her Italian counterpart Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to drive action against people smuggling gangs and dismantle the money networks being used by organised immigration crime.
Like most people in Britain, Sunday Express readers want strong border security and a properly controlled immigration system.
This government agrees – and we are backing up our words with action.
Our plan for change is based on grip and graft – not gimmicks – because only a serious, sensible approach will suffice.
