VN, UK ink new agreement on illegal immigration
VGP - Senior Colonel Vu Van Hung from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Public Security and Minister for Countering Illegal Migration of the UK Michael Tomlinson signed a new agreement to increase cooperation in tackling illegal migration and stopping Vietnamese people risking their lives by crossing the English Channel.
Senior Colonel Vu Van Hung from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Public Security (R) and Minister for Countering Illegal Migration of the UK Michael Tomlinson sign new agreement on illegal immigration, London, April 17, 2024 - Photo: VNA
The agreement comes as an increasing number of Vietnamese migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats this year.
Under the new agreement, the two countries pledged to spur cooperation on deterrence communication campaigns to stop dangerous journeys in small boats. They will also increase intelligence-sharing to tackle visa abuse and continue to facilitate the process for the return of those with no right to remain in the UK.
The two sides will develop a Joint Action Plan in tackling human trafficking to prevent vulnerable people and disrupt people trafficking.
Viet Nam and the UK will continue to maintain direct and effective mechanisms and communication channels to share information, and promote legal routes.
The agreement follows a dialogue on April 15 between Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, General To Lam and the UK’s Home Secretary James Cleverly who agreed on a strong set of measures to deal with visa abuse, increase intelligence sharing, deterrence messages, and continue a successful returns process for illegal migrants from the UK to their home country.
From 2018 to the end of 2023 there were 3,356 Vietnamese small boat arrivals, putting Viet Nam in the top 10 source countries.
In March, the UK’s Home Office launched a social media campaign in Viet Nam to highlight the risks of crossing the Channel in small boats./.
