DUP MP Sammy Wilson has warned that there is an easy route for migrants to travel into the Irish Republic and into the United Kingdom.
Speaking to GB News, he said: “This is something which we have warned about for so long as well. Because, of course, we identified that the route through the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland, and eventually, of course, into Great Britain was an easy route for those who wanted to break into our country. And the government did little or nothing about it.
“The other way around, there were people coming into Britain, and then trying to get into the Republic, the Irish government started searches on the border, went into buses, looked at people’s identities and everything else.
“We have not had the same response from our government. And it’s significant that there are many, especially working-class parts of Northern Ireland now, where it’s becoming a dumping ground for the people who enter Northern Ireland illegally through the Republic, then claim asylum, claim visas are given visas, and of course have access to all the public services.
“I used to represent a part of East Belfast, and I moved, of course, East Antrim, and East Belfast has changed totally. But it’s not just unionist parts. Nationalist parts of East of Belfast are being affected by this as well.
“You find that houses are scarce, schools are under pressure, health services are under pressure because we have not been able to assimilate the people who have been able to come easily into Northern Ireland.
“And it should be a warning, of course. If and when the people who come through the Republican into Northern Ireland get sick and tired of Northern Ireland, or want to come into the rest of GB, they’ve easy access through.
“Our government has got to realise that the open borders which exist, have to be guarded against.
“I suspect, see with some of the people here crossing the channel, and finding that it’s dangerous crossing the channel. The next thing, once it becomes known, you can easily go into the Republic, get on a bus or a train, come into Northern Ireland, and you’re in the United Kingdom and then you can claim all the benefits that the United Kingdom affords.
“That’s the thing that the government needs to address, and it’s closing its eyes to at the moment, and we have seen the consequences.”