The UK has slapped down Ireland's plan to return migrants who have crossed the border to avoid being sent to Rwanda, saying Britain is not "going to start accepting returns".
This comes amid an escalating row between Dublin and Westminster over the Irish government's plans for new legislation to enable asylum seekers who cross the border from Northern Ireland to be sent back to Britain.
Speaking ahead of a lunchtime press conference, Downing Street said it is up to the UK Government to decide who is allowed to enter the country, despite any legislation the Irish government may pass.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Even if Ireland was to pass legislation, it is up to the UK Government to decide who we do and don’t accept into the country and, clearly, we aren’t going to start accepting returns from the EU just as the EU doesn’t accept asylum returns from the UK to France.”
Chris Heaton-Harris spoke at a joint press conference this afternoon following a British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC)
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Welfare Secretary Mel Stride added this morning: “We are not in the business of having more illegal migrants in the UK.
“We have passed the legislation. What you're seeing now are the early signs of the deterrent effect working.”
Speaking at a joint press conference this afternoon following a British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC), Chris Heaton-Harris said: "Any agreement on returns, we've been told all the way through that the UK must deal with the European Union as a whole entity, so anything on returns has to be dealt with one that basis.
"And we are working on that with our European partners. Because this is a shared endeavour to try and stop criminal gangs illegally importing, and exporting people. Human trafficking people across the continent of Europe, into the UK and to Ireland."
He added: "We will work with everybody and anybody to try and solve this problem, but we do know we have to work with our European partners."
The Republic of Ireland had been planning to push through emergency legislation this week to let it send back migrants to Northern Ireland - but UK Government sources slammed the plan, insisting they would not agree to any deal unless the EU also agreed to let Britain do the same to 'small boats' migrants in the English Channel.
Ireland's justice minister, Helen McEntee, had raised concerns over a surge in asylum seekers across the Northern Irish border with over 80 per cent of those in the Republic now coming from the UK.
She called for "fast processing", adding: "My focus as minister for justice is making sure that we have an effective immigration structure and system."
McEntee continued: "That's why I'll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK, and that's why I'll be meeting the Home Secretary to raise these issues on Monday."
But Home Secretary James Cleverly backed out of the meeting citing diary clashes. Instead, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris met with Irish officials earlier today.