Illegal Migrants to Face Clothing and Mouth Searches for Phones at UK Ports

The introduction of new UK border regulations will enable the officers in ports to conduct more intrusive searches on the suspected migrants who are believed to have gotten into the country illegally. With such measures, the officers have the authority to direct individuals to undress some parts of their garments and inspect their mouths to locate smuggled mobile phones, SIM cards, or other tiny electronic gadgets used in people-smuggling activities. The government claims that it requires such powers to disrupt the criminal networks and to collect digital evidence, and critics have raised the issue of privacy and the possible ramifications on human rights. This paper describes the contents of the new provisions and their controversies. Learn more about wages, contracts, and safety rules for migrant workers on our Migrant Labour Rights page.

What the New UK Rules Allow

With the new authorities, border guards can order migrants in Britain to take off their coats, jackets, hats, or gloves so that the officials can inspect these items and know whether they are carrying any smuggled goods or SIM cards. They can also search in the mouth of a person in case they suspect that there are small electronics or SIMs hidden in the mouth. These searches are described as non-intimate, that is, they do not go further than complete strip searches, however, they continue to exceed normal pat-downs. The officers may also inspect the devices that they suspect contain information that would be helpful in investigating illegal entry or people-smuggling.​ Several other significant changes to the immigration system are now underway in the UK government after the release of a new policy document.

Government’s Justification

According to UK ministers, smugglers have become very dependent on phones, messaging apps, and encrypted communications to organize Channel crossings and other illegal paths. By intercepting devices at the entry point, law enforcement hopes to have an intelligent view of routes, organizers and payments and apply this fact in prosecutions. The officials describe the steps as a wider initiative to put an end to the boats, discourage irregular migration and enhance austerity on the borders together with the European partners.​

Read Also: English Channel Crossings: More than 15,000 illegal immigrants use small boat to reach UK since 2018

Concerns Over Rights and Dignity

Human rights activists and migrant support organizations express concerns that the authorities are likely to produce humiliating treatment and can be in use at will unless there are adequate protections. They caution that naïve individuals such as asylum seekers and survivors of trafficking may be exposed to invasive examinations that may be punitive, instead of protective. There has also been an issue regarding proportionality, data privacy and the length of time that digital information seized can be held and whether or not racial or ethnic profiling in regard to the individuals searched.​ With little to no money to pay smugglers for boat crossings many rely on dangerous and desperate alternatives to reach UK.