West must help developing countries 'solve migration problem', says Cleverly

James Cleverly with Clint Smith, chief legal officer of the social media platform Discord, San Francisco Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Secretary of the Interior will say on Tuesday that the West must help developing countries improve their economies to stop migrants leaving.

In a speech in New York during a two-day trip to the US, James Cleverly will call on the global community to take collective action to combat illegal migration.

He will say that the West must give developing countries the means to stop the flight of capital and labor by giving them the tools and trade links to grow their economies.

“Talent drain can have devastating consequences, causing capital flight, huge workforce gaps and safety concerns. It can be extremely expensive for countries to train specialists who will then take their skills elsewhere,” Mr Cleverley said.

“Furthermore, citizens will suffer if their country fails to invest in skills and training and then plug those gaps through immigration. Doing the right thing by those in need does not necessarily mean resettling them in our own country.

“Central to solving the problem of international migration is working collectively to help people stay and thrive at home.

A record 290 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on Sunday, the highest single-day figure in February since the crisis began, the Home Office said.

Mr Cleverly will present a list of “challenges” for the international community, including breaking up people smuggling gangs, combating illegal migration “upstream” by blocking boats and funding used to transport migrants, as well as support for countries wishing to settle in the country. more refugees.

He will also call on the international community to consider how the “international architecture” of laws governing refugees and migration should be updated, amid concerns that the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) are considered by some to be are no longer fit for purpose.

He will say that the UK is leading the fight against illegal immigration, citing a new law that will detain any illegal migrant arriving in the UK and deport them to a safe third country. such as Rwanda can seek asylum there.

“This acts as a deterrent because it makes clear that anyone coming to the UK illegally cannot expect to stay there. But it will also provide illegal British immigrants with an alternative home. There's a reason why it's called the Migration and Economic Development Partnership because we're making major investments in Rwanda.”