England is weighing the use of electronic bracelets to track the whereabouts of immigrants who enter the country irregularly. This measure is part of a controversial plan on illegal immigration that could be put into effect in the coming months after receiving parliamentary approval last July. The proposal would allow custody and deportation of anyone lacking proper documentation. The government awaits a Supreme Court decision on whether deportations to Rwanda can proceed, a program aimed at October implementation.
Interior Minister Suella Braverman has instructed officials to explore all options to avoid leaving refugees and migrants without clear pathways. One practical aim is to expand detention capacity, which currently houses roughly 2,500 people. That number is well below the backlog of asylum seekers awaiting decisions, which has surpassed 175,000 as of the latest June data. The bracelets are proposed as a potential solution to cope with the limited space in detention centers.
legal obstacles
Beyond the wristbands, the Ministry of Interior has also considered removing the restriction on economic support for migrants who do not appear regularly before the authorities. While this could be a foreseeable approach, courts worry about pushing refugees into poverty. The logistics, cost, and broader legal challenges of implementing wristbands have raised questions. Downing Street must consider feasibility before putting the plan into practice.
“The use of wristbands treats people as objects rather than as vulnerable men, women, and children seeking safety.”
— Enver Salomon, Executive Director of the Refugee Council —
Human rights organizations have voiced strong criticism of the plan. “The wristbands would dehumanize migrants, failing to recognize their vulnerability and need for safety,” Salomon said to The Times. Other groups, including Privacy International, warn about the stigma associated with wristbands and the impact on ordinary daily tasks people must perform, from mobility to work and access to services.
irregular arrivals
The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy to curb irregular entry via the English Channel. Last year’s peak saw about 45,756 arrivals, while the figure for the current year has approached 20,000 so far. The goal is to act as a deterrent and halt the rise of small-boat crossings by employing measures such as detention, deportation to sites like Rwanda, and enhanced border enforcement.
The government argues these steps will trim housing and support costs for asylum seekers, arguing that spending on asylum and related services could exceed several billions in the recent year. Despite increasing staff and tightening procedures for handling applications, the overall intake continues to grow monthly for many officials. Supporters say a Supreme Court decision could accelerate deportations to Rwanda, restore public confidence among voters unsettled by previous promises, and bolster the stance of a government that faced disillusionment after Brexit.
Braverman stated that the administration would undertake every necessary action to fulfill its plan, while warnings were raised about the possibility of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects signatory states from deporting asylum seekers to places where their rights may be at risk. For now, Rwanda remains the focal point of this policy as viewed from the British justice system.