The Department is unprepared for the challenges the UK’s exit from the EU presents to its immigration enforcement operations. The Department relies on cooperation with EU partners to support its international operations, including the return of foreign national offenders and individuals who arrive in the UK illegally via EU transport hubs. It would like this cooperation to continue after the end of the transition period for the UK’s departure from the EU but showed a worrying lack of urgency ...

The Department is unprepared for the challenges the UK’s exit from the EU presents to its immigration enforcement operations. The Department relies on cooperation with EU partners to support its international operations, including the return of foreign national offenders and individuals who arrive in the UK illegally via EU transport hubs. It would like this cooperation to continue after the end of the transition period for the UK’s departure from the EU but showed a worrying lack of urgency about securing the necessary agreements. When we took evidence in mid- July, the Department provided no evidence that it had begun discussions with EU pa Type: conclusion | Number: 5 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 5.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 5.2 The department is working hard to prepare for a range of potential outcomes at the end of the transition period. This remains a top priority, with the Department continuing to build on the prepa