New UK Law Aims To Crack Down On Online Ads Promoting Illegal Immigration

The UK government has introduced a new legal measure targeting the online promotion of illegal immigration, specifically aiming at criminal gangs that exploit social media to entice migrants into risky journeys or scams. The proposed amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill would establish a broad offence covering such digital activities across the UK, with violators facing up to five years in prison and substantial fines.

This includes promoting English Channel crossings in small boats, forging travel documents like visas or passports, or advertising illegal job opportunities in the UK. The law is designed to hold people smugglers accountable, regardless of where they operate. “Selling false hopes of safe passage and a new life in the UK—whether online or offline—just to turn a profit is utterly immoral,” said UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far this year.

Yvette Cooper added that the policy is part of a broader “Plan for Change” to boost border security, empower enforcement agencies, and disrupt fast-evolving people-smuggling tactics. “We have to stay one step ahead of the ever-evolving tactics of people-smuggling gangs. This move will empower law enforcement to disable these tactics faster and more effectively, ensuring people face proper penalties," she added.

Though facilitating illegal immigration is already a crime, the UK government said the new offence will provide a sharper legal tool to disrupt the global online operations of smuggling networks. Last month, the government introduced a new sanctions framework that permits the freezing of assets, the imposition of travel bans, and the restriction of access to the country’s financial system for individuals and organisations facilitating irregular migration.