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<p>The UK has a long and proud history of providing protection to those who need it,
in accordance with our international obligations. Tens of thousands of people have
rebuilt their lives in the UK and we will continue to provide safe and legal routes
for the vulnerable to do so in the future.</p><p>Meanwhile, we have seen unprecedented
numbers of journeys to the UK by small boat in 2020, which are both dangerous and
facilitated by criminals, and so we are determined to render these journeys unviable.</p><p>The
Department has been developing plans to reform our illegal migration and asylum policies
to ensure we are able to provide protection to those who need it whilst preventing
abuse of the system and the criminality associated with it.</p><p>As part of this,
we have explored likeminded states’ responses to similar situations in order to consider
the various options that exist for deterring people from undertaking these dangerous
journeys, exploring a range of options, including those that have been employed by
other countries in similar situations. No decisions have been made by Ministers and
we continue to work to find the right approach for the UK.</p>
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