Northern Ireland: UK to 'intensify' crackdown on illegal migration
The UK government is intensifying immigration enforcement in Northern Ireland through increased intelligence-led operations to track and remove individuals residing in the country illegally. These efforts, primarily conducted under 'Operation Gull,' aim to curb the abuse of the Common Travel Area by migrants entering via the Republic of Ireland.
Why it matters
The crackdown highlights the ongoing tension between maintaining an open border on the island of Ireland and the UK government's commitment to stricter immigration controls, potentially impacting UK-Ireland diplomatic relations.
Image source, Getty Images By Enda McClafferty Northern Ireland political editor Published 11 June 2026, 10:01 BST The government is set to "intensify" its crackdown on illegal migrants living in Northern Ireland.
The article reports on government policy and statistics using neutral language, providing context from both the UK Home Office and the Irish Department of Justice without taking a partisan stance.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in