Yvette Cooper is due to meet Donald Trump’s hardline immigration minister as part of her work to crack down on small boat crossings.
The Home Secretary is planning a meeting with Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, who has described the US border with Mexico as a ‘war zone’.
In her confirmation hearing last month, where she was appointed Secretary, Mrs Noem portrayed illegal migration as an ‘invasion’ and pledged to implement the President’s tough policies.
Sources said Ms Cooper will be keen to learn from her US counterpart, as she tries to tackle the small boats crisis.
This month Mrs Noem was seen riding horseback along the border wearing a cowboy hat alongside US patrol guards.
She has also joined immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) agents on assignments, earning the nickname ‘ICE Barbie’ for the glamorous outfits she wears on raids.
More than 23,000 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats between July’s general election and the end of last year.
The meeting with Mrs Noem is expected to take place in coming weeks, insiders said.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) is planning to meet US border tsar Kristi Noem
In her confirmation hearing last month, Mrs Noem (pictured) portrayed illegal migration as an ‘invasion’ and pledged to implement the President’s tough policies
Migrants carry a dinghy on their shoulders as they prepare to leave Dunkirk, France. Nearly 19,000 foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers have been deported since July
It is the latest example of the Home Office taking inspiration from Mr Trump’s playbook. This month the department released videos of illegal immigrants being deported.
Nearly 19,000 foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers have been deported since July, according to Home Office data.
Labour sees cracking down on immigration as key to fending off Reform. But MPs on the left of the party are concerned the move resembles the ‘hostile environment’ created during Theresa May’s stint as home secretary.
A Home Office spokesman said: it wanted to ‘end dangerous small boat crossings’ and will ‘stop at nothing’ to ‘dismantle’ people-smuggling gangs and ‘bring them to justice’.
