The UK government, led by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, has announced an aggressive strategy to combat irregular migration, aiming to increase deportations to levels not seen since 2018. This initiative comes in response to the arrival of over 5,700 migrants by boat since the Labour government took office on July 5, 2023. Key measures include recruiting 100 new officers for the National Crime Agency to dismantle people-smuggling operations and reopening immigration detention centres to accommodate a surge in deportations. Critics, including Enver Solomon from the Refugee Council, argue that the government should focus on voluntary return programs rather than expanding detention facilities, which they claim are costly and detrimental to mental health. The government's plan includes targeting employers hiring illegal workers with severe penalties, reinforcing the commitment to enforce immigration laws robustly. Overall, the approach reflects a shift from the previous administration's Rwanda Plan, which has been scrapped in favor of a more humane yet stringent migration policy.