The case of Axel Rudakubana in Southport highlights a big issue. This single event shows a much bigger problem. Since around 2000, immigration to the UK has increased more than ever before.
Many immigrants have helped society by working in important jobs. But some have come from countries with violent pasts. Places like Somalia, Rwanda, the Balkans, and the Middle East have seen terrible wars.
We don’t fully understand how this violence has affected those who come to the UK. Many may have suffered serious trauma.
Kwasi Kwarteng says illegal immigrants have taken advantage of the UK’s weak immigration system. He believes Rudakubana’s violent actions could be linked to his family’s past, especially the Rwandan genocide. Even though he was born in Britain, his background may have influenced him. This doesn’t excuse his crimes, but it helps explain them.
The number of immigrants coming to the UK has grown massively. From 1950 to 2000, about 50,000 people moved to the UK each year. But since the early 2000s, immigration has increased a lot. Last year, net migration was 900,000—almost ten times higher than the goal set by Conservative politicians in previous elections.
Illegal immigration is an even bigger issue. No one knows exactly how many illegal immigrants live in the UK. Over the years, millions have arrived, and the government has little knowledge of where they live or what they have been through. Some may have suffered terrible hardships, while others may have caused harm.
Many people come to the UK illegally for clear reasons:
- Wars and conflicts in their home countries
- Criminal groups that smuggle people
- Social media, where illegal migrants show off their new lives, making others want to come
The UK government has not kept up with these changes. Britain’s asylum laws were created over a hundred years ago to protect people in real danger, such as Jewish refugees fleeing Russia and Nazi Germany. The system was not meant for people looking for better jobs and living conditions.
Today, many illegal immigrants are people whose asylum applications were rejected but who were never deported. A recent study found that 1 in 12 people in London is an illegal migrant—around 585,000 people. But even the Home Office admits that no one knows the true number.
Illegal immigrants have come to Britain without following the law. This shows that the system is failing. If Britain is broken, the failure to stop illegal migration is proof of that.
