Government not concerned about immigrants in Gibraltar

The government does not consider there to be any increased risk of migrants attempting to enter Gibraltar by land, although it says it continues to monitor migration patterns in the area.

This in response to GBC questions relating to a GB News interview with Baron John Redwood, in which it was claimed that Gibraltar faces the risk of an African invasion.

In the interview, the Tory peer expressed concern that new arrangements under the treaty could lead to immigrants arriving in Gibraltar and potentially applying for asylum in the UK.

In answer to GBC questions on what arrangements are in place under the Treaty for dealing with asylum seekers, and how joint naval patrols would deal with any migrants encountered, Number Six limited itself to saying both these situations are provided for in current legislation.

The question of immigration has not been a concern for Gibraltar in recent years. Since January 2016, Gibraltar has processed a total of 51 asylum applications, With 24 of these originating from Morocco.

Baron John Redwood has suggested illegal immigrants might take advantage of what he called Spain’s ‘extremely weak’ migration policy. 

In the interview with GB News, he said the British government needed to provide assurances that illegal migrants coming into Gibraltar would not be eligible to live in Gibraltar or go on to the United Kingdom. 

Baron Redwood made claims about Spain’s recent amnesty for illegal migrants, incorrectly asserting they had been granted the right to live anywhere else in the European Union.

The Spanish programme provides eligible immigrants a one year temporary residence permit exclusively for Spain, which does not allow them to reside or work in any other countries.