Starmer calls global summit to combat people smuggling

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is spearheading an international summit in London, bringing together representatives from over 40 countries, including the US, France, and nations like Albania and Iraq, to combat illegal migration and people-smuggling gangs. Starmer emphasized the need for countries to collaborate and share resources, likening the organized immigration crime issue to terrorism, and called for a unified approach to tackle the problem at all stages of the smuggling routes. The summit aims to produce 'concrete outcomes' and will involve discussions on criminal finances and online advertisements promoting people smuggling, with officials from social media platforms like Meta, TikTok, and X also participating. Starmer's government has deported over 24,000 individuals without legal rights to remain in the UK and plans to introduce tougher laws requiring employers in the gig economy to perform right-to-work checks. This summit comes amid a record number of migrant crossings, highlighting the urgency to address the crisis. The Home Office and Starmer are optimistic that cooperative international efforts can yield significant progress against organized crime in this area.