Starmer Compares People Smugglers to Terrorists, Sparking Human Rights Concerns

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ignited controversy by calling for people-smuggling gangs to be treated like terrorist organisations, urging a global crackdown on organised migration crime. Critics warn that his aggressive stance could lead to human rights violations and the criminalisation of desperate migrants.

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit in London, Starmer likened smuggling networks to terrorist cells, drawing on his experience as Director of Public Prosecutions. “We prevented planes from being blown up over the Atlantic—organised immigration crime must be tackled with the same urgency,” he declared.

His remarks have raised alarms among human rights advocates, who argue that equating migration-related crimes with terrorism risks justifying extreme enforcement measures. The UK government also announced a £30 million investment to disrupt smuggling networks, alongside stricter laws targeting businesses employing undocumented migrants.

Despite these efforts, illegal Channel crossings have surged past 5,000 this year. Critics blame the UK’s hostile immigration policies, while the government insists criminal gangs are exploiting the crisis. With Starmer pushing for harsher crackdowns, the debate over migration enforcement versus human rights intensifies.