“Spain has made a serious mistake with its regularization policy toward illegal migration flows, which now acts as a strong pull factor. To ensure this does not become a danger for our country, the British government must urgently engage with its European counterparts, pressing them to carry out arrests and expulsions and to stop movements across Europe. Downing Street should also support Italy’s request to suspend free movement in the Schengen area with Spain in order to contain this wave of clandestine immigration.” These are the comments given to Adnkronos by Priti Patel, a senior British political figure: long known for a hard line on immigration, she served as Home Secretary and is now the shadow foreign secretary. During her time in government she was the architect of the controversial deportation plan to Rwanda under the Conservative government led by then-prime minister Boris Johnson, and she introduced the Nationality and Borders Act, legislation aimed at increasing penalties for people traffickers and sharply limiting access to the asylum system.
Facing the relentless flow from Morocco toward the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Patel speaks bluntly and frames the situation as a systemic failure. “The scenes of migrants entering Ceuta illegally are horrifying and again demonstrate the risks to Europe’s borders. Some will inevitably try to make their way to the United Kingdom.” For the former minister, the root problem is a permissive and institutionally weak stance by continental governments. “It is essential that European countries take control of the situation and abandon their reluctance to adopt strong deterrent measures, describing the phenomenon for what it is: illegal entry into a sovereign state via illicit routes facilitated by vile criminal gangs.”
Patel directs sharp criticism at recent decisions by the Madrid government. “Spain has committed a serious error with its amnesty policy, because it acts as a magnet and attraction factor. This mistake will not remain confined to the Iberian Peninsula but will soon translate into a new wave of illegal Channel crossings. Once in Europe, they will travel through the Schengen area toward the French coast.”
Given this territorial permeability, Patel calls for immediate and decisive diplomatic action involving the new Labour government of Andy Burnham and European partners, backing Italy’s request to suspend Schengen travel with Spain. Her approach also targets origin and transit countries such as Morocco, where she believes diplomacy should be paired with economic and legal pressure. Citing her government experience, she recalls introducing visa-related sanctions against countries that refuse to repatriate their nationals and urges that such measures be applied rigorously today. Domestically, her prescription to protect the country from the effects of the Spanish crisis involves immediate reforms and a break with current arrangements.
“We must leave the European Convention on Human Rights and restore the agreement with Rwanda, or create a similar arrangement, to transfer migrants to a safe third country. That would serve as a deterrent. We must also reduce the pull factor by holding arrivals in designated facilities until deportation. We need a tougher approach to protect our borders. This also saves lives by preventing people from relying on dangerous criminal organizations,” Patel emphasizes. (by Alessandro Allocca)