From Monday, January 5th, undocumented migrants arriving in the UK may have their mobile phones confiscated without police intervention. This measure aims to combat drug trafficking.

The UK is tightening its controls. Illegal immigrants intercepted by British authorities may be subject to more thorough checks, including searches of their mobile phones, as reported by the Daily Mail.

In Kent, a county in the far southeast of England, officers at the Manston center, used to process migrants who have crossed the Channel, will now use technology to access data on the electronic devices of new arrivals in order to gather information on the smuggling networks that British law enforcement is facing.

The government has promised to "restore order and control at the borders"

"We are implementing rigorous new laws to intercept, disrupt and dismantle these criminal gangs faster than ever before and cut off their supply chains," explained Alex Norris, National Minister of Border Security.

Thanks to new measures implemented by the country, certain offenses will be punished more severely. In addition to accessing the mobile phones of undocumented migrants, the storage or sale of boat engines intended for transporting migrants to the United Kingdom will be punished with a much harsher sentence, now up to 14 years in prison. Smugglers who provide information on the best geographical points of departure or arrival, as well as locations for obtaining nautical equipment, will face up to five years in prison.

“We have promised to restore order and control at our borders, which means tackling the smuggling networks responsible for this deadly trade,” the UK Border Secretary summarized. This measure comes a few weeks after the passage of a bill on border security, asylum, and immigration.

41,472 migrants in 2025, a near national record

On November 18, the House of Lords had indeed sent back the bill on border security, asylum and immigration to the House of Commons which stipulated in particular that refugees would only benefit from protection for a period of 30 months instead of 5 years previously.

The United Kingdom is trying to stem the ever-increasing influx of migrants into its territory. In 2025, 41,472 irregular migrants were counted, the second-highest figure in the country's history and a 13% increase compared to 2024.