Illegal Immigrants Concern England

May 23, 2002
LONDON- Prime Minister Tony Blair is considering using warships to intercept gangs smuggling illegal immigrants, newspapers reported Thursday.

Blair also may hinge aid to Somalia, Sri Lanka and Turkey, among others, on promises they take back asylum-seekers rejected by Britain, according to news reports.

"It has become clear from the prime minister's discussions on this issue that concerted action is needed across government if we are to deliver a radical reduction in the numbers" of unfounded asylum claims, a memo by Blair policy adviser Olivia McLeod was quoted by The Guardian newspaper as saying.

Thousands of asylum-seekers and refugees enter Britain illegally every year.

The memo reportedly accompanied a Home Office plan sketching out actions that could be taken "at each of the stages of an unfounded (asylum) claim, from tackling the problem at source to securing swift removal of failed applicants."

Government officials asked the Ministry of Defense if navy ships in the eastern Mediterranean could be used to stop immigrant traffickers operating there, several newspapers said.

Newspapers also reported that officials were exploring ways to deport immigrants in large groups. The likeliest means, the newspapers speculated, was via Royal Air Force transport planes.

Blair's official spokesman, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, downplayed the reports, saying the Home Office proposal was one of several circulated among top officials before a meeting on asylum-seekers.

"It doesn't represent policy, it is more of a discussion paper," the spokesman said. "It is looking at different ideas and different options. Some of these proposals may be taken up, some won't."

He declined to comment specifically on any details.

International Development Secretary Clare Short opposed the idea of linking aid to a country's willingness to accept returned refugees, newspapers said, and The Guardian quoted a Department for International Development spokeswoman as saying it would be illegal.

A department spokeswoman declined to comment to The Associated Press and referred all questions to Blair's office.

The newspapers said officials also were considering sanctioning countries refusing to accept returned refugees. Those measures could include denying visas to some government officials.

Blair said after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar this week that he wanted the European Union to play a stronger role in cracking down on illegal immigration.

Both leaders said European nations must cooperatively strengthen controls of the continent's external borders and crack down on people-smuggling gangs.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-eur/2002/may/23/052305857.html