Gaston warns Northern Ireland risks becoming “dumping ground” for illegal migrants

TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston

TUV representative for North Antrim, Timothy Gaston, has voiced grave concerns in the Northern Ireland Assembly over the potential consequences of new UK immigration legislation, warning that Northern Ireland could become a “dumping ground” for illegal migrants.

In a speech delivered at Stormont on Tuesday (13th May), Mr Gaston welcomed the Second Reading of the UK Government’s latest immigration Bill in the House of Commons, suggesting it demonstrated a more robust stance on border control.

“The Bill that saw its Second Reading in the Commons yesterday was a welcome one; indeed, it has annoyed all the right people in this House this morning, namely Sinn Féin, the SDLP and their helpers in the Alliance Party, which shows me that it is a step in the right direction,” said Gaston.

He praised the influence of recent local elections on the Government’s shifting priorities, suggesting that the Labour Party’s loss of ground to Reform UK—known for its stringent immigration stance—had prompted action.

“TUV wants to see boats crossing the channel stopped and immigration tightened up. TUV wants to see a Government that are serious about border security.

“However, I observe that this is only happening now because of the Mayday, Mayday alarm that was sent to the Labour Government at the local elections when Reform, which has a clear policy on immigration, swept the boards,” he said.

Border Loophole Raises Alarm

Mr Gaston’s principal concern centred on the unique position of Northern Ireland within the UK’s immigration framework, particularly given its open land border with the Republic of Ireland. He noted that while migrants can be stopped when travelling from Northern Ireland into the Republic, the reverse journey appears less scrutinised.

“The issue that concerns me is how this will apply to Northern Ireland. Our open border with the South and the Irish means that immigrants can be stopped at the border when travelling from to Northern Ireland to the Irish Republic, but, for some reason, they are not being stopped when travelling from the South up here to Northern Ireland. That issue needs to be addressed urgently.”

His warning echoes broader concerns about the enforcement of immigration laws in Northern Ireland post-Brexit, particularly under the continued application of the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Windsor Framework.

Legal Concerns Echo Rwanda Bill Debate

Drawing a parallel with the controversial Rwanda deportation scheme, Mr Gaston expressed fears that the courts could yet again strike down the new immigration legislation, citing its potential incompatibility with existing legal arrangements unique to Northern Ireland.

“More alarming still is the possibility that the Bill could go the same way as the Rwanda Bill and be found by the courts to be incompatible with the protocol. If that happens — this is a stark warning — Northern Ireland will face the very real prospect of becoming a dumping ground for illegal immigrants, with no effective immigration law.”

He concluded by urging the Labour Government to act swiftly to prevent such an outcome.

“I trust that the Labour Government will not inflict that on Northern Ireland and will take steps to ensure that that will not happen.”

Political Reactions and Broader Implications

Mr Gaston’s comments are likely to intensify debate in Northern Ireland’s Assembly, where immigration and border policy remain divisive. Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party have previously expressed opposition to policies they consider overly restrictive or in breach of human rights obligations.

The Government has not yet clarified how the new Bill will apply specifically to Northern Ireland under the terms of the UK-EU agreements. However, legal experts suggest that any divergence in immigration enforcement could risk legal challenges or further political instability in the region.

As the legislation continues its passage through Westminster, Mr Gaston’s intervention underscores the growing urgency of clarifying the UK’s post-Brexit immigration rules—particularly in Northern Ireland, a region where complex cross-border arrangements exist.