Upon receiving an invitation from King Charles and the British government for a second state visit to the U.K., U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to focus on trade and economic relations. However, upon his arrival at Stansted Airport, Trump will face a shift in political priorities in the country.
While concerns over Britain’s slow economic growth and the impact of Trump’s tariffs persist, the resurgence of immigration as a top political issue is a pressing matter for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Unlike previous instances, the current immigration debate is centered on the continuous influx of asylum seekers from countries like Afghanistan and Sudan, arriving in small boats across the English Channel.
Approximately 30,000 individuals have undertaken the perilous journey across the Channel this year, despite efforts by both French and British authorities to curb the arrivals. The mounting cost of accommodating asylum seekers in government-funded hotels, exceeding two billion pounds this year alone, has sparked widespread complaints of increased criminal activities and social unrest in neighboring communities.
Moreover, there has been a notable rise in legal immigration, particularly from nations like Nigeria and India, leading to concerns about housing shortages, strain on public services, and rapid societal changes. This surge in immigration has fueled discontent, benefiting the far-right Reform UK party, which has gained significant political traction under the leadership of Nigel Farage.
The prevailing sentiment among Britons, as indicated by recent polls, is that immigration levels, including legal entries, are deemed excessive. Large-scale protests in London over the weekend highlighted public dissatisfaction, with demands for deportations and a crackdown on immigration policies.
The discourse around immigration and its purported link to crime has been amplified by prominent figures like Elon Musk and Nigel Farage, who advocate for stricter immigration controls and mass deportations. Despite the visible impact of small boat arrivals, statistics show a significant decline in overall immigration numbers in recent years.
To address the immigration challenges, the Starmer government has implemented stringent measures to reduce legal immigration, including a “one in, one out” agreement with France and stricter eligibility criteria for remaining in the U.K. While efforts are being made to transition asylum seekers from hotels to alternative accommodations, the political pressure to act swiftly remains high.
The influence of Donald Trump on the anti-immigrant movement in Britain is a topic of debate, as his policies align with those of Reform UK but his popularity in the country remains low. Protesters and counter-protesters have voiced contrasting views on immigration policies, underscoring the divisive nature of the issue in British society.