Reform UK vows to plug Irish border loophole allowing 'dangerous' illegal migrants to pour into Britain

Reform UK has vowed to plug a loophole at the Irish border which the party claims is allowing “dangerous” illegal migrants to enter Britain through Northern Ireland. The party wants immigration officers to carry out spot checks on buses and trains travelling from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland as part of a major border crackdown. Transport companies would also be slapped with a £10,000 fine for every passenger found to have entered Northern Ireland illegally. Reform MP Danny Kruger is set to unveil the plans at the DUP conference later today, warning that the soft Irish border is being exploited as a “backdoor route into the UK”. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Mr Kruger is expected to say: “Illegal and unvetted dangerous criminals, who cross into Northern Ireland are abusing the soft Irish border, using it as a backdoor route into the UK. “The absence of checkpoints at the border does not remove the requirement to have a right to enter. “Almost all illegal movement from the Republic into Northern Ireland is by scheduled coach or train, arriving at a handful of terminals.” Under Reform's proposals, immigration enforcement officers would conduct spot checks at transport hubs including Belfast, Newry, Banbridge and Sprucefield. However, the party insists the crackdown would not amount to introducing checks at the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Mr Kruger is set to say: “We will impose a civil penalty of £10,000 per passenger on any bus or rail operator for each illegal immigrant transported into Northern Ireland. “This is not a border check, it will be for operators to determine their own approach. The £10,000 fine will fund the deportation of the illegal migrants and further border enforcement.” Money raised through the penalties would be used to fund deportations and additional immigration enforcement. MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST: Smirking illegal migrant Deliveroo rider jailed for rape after dragging woman 'like a rag doll' Labour warned failure to tackle illegal immigration could trigger 'collapse of state legitimacy' Two soldiers 'injured by migrants' evacuated from Ceuta as Spain struggles to control invasion Reform is also demanding greater cooperation from the Irish Government to prevent people without permission to enter the UK from travelling north. The party wants Dublin to share more information with the Home Office and introduce measures at Dublin Airport preventing people do not have permission to enter the UK from boarding northbound public transport. Mr Kruger will warn that the Common Travel Area, which allows British and Irish citizens to move freely between the two countries, is being exploited. He will say: “The Common Travel Area and soft border is a hard-won compromise after decades of conflict. “This pillar of the peace process is now being exploited by illegal migrants seeking to break into Britain.” The Home Office said immigration enforcement activity already takes place across Common Travel Area routes using intelligence-led operations. A Home Office spokesman said: “We have a close and collaborative working relationship with Ireland on migration and border security. “This includes a mutual commitment to protect the Common Travel Area from abuse, delivered through joint work to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter [Read Full Story on Gb News →](https://www.gbnews.com/politics/migrant-crisis-reform-uk-irish-border-loophole-criminals-britain)