DUP boss asks who is protecting Northern Ireland's borders after 'staggering' Home Office evidence

Officials also said they were aware of anecdotal reports that people seeking asylum in the UK had been directed towards busses to Belfast at Dublin airport.

They had been questioned on the issue by MPs in Westminster earlier this week, with DUP boss Gavin Robinson quizzing the immigration officials’ department on what they were doing to stop illegal entry to the UK across the Irish border.

The Home Office said they could not lawfully stop busses from Dublin to Belfast, without the PSNI. Officials also told MPs they believed there were better outcomes from searching people at ports and airports.

In an email to DUP supporters, Gavin Robinson questioned how someone can board a flight in a Schengen country, land in the Republic of Ireland and then travel into the United Kingdom without anyone ever checking if they have a passport or a visa.

“I also challenged the Home Office’s Director of Enforcement about why immigration officers are not boarding buses or trains travelling from Dublin into Northern Ireland to establish whether those entering the UK are here legally.

“The answer was staggering. We were told they don’t carry out those operations because of risk assessments. The Director then said he didn’t have the legal power and then admitted he had never even asked for it! I am clear that the powers do exist and I will return to this matter next week in Westminster”, he said.

“The Director also confirmed there have been no joint operations with the PSNI to tackle illegal immigration along that route. I find this strange, as Customs and Excise officials dip for red diesel around the border every day in conjunction with the PSNI”, he added.

Addressing reports that Irish officials directed people towards buses travelling to Belfast, the DUP boss said the claims “clearly deserves urgent investigation, yet there was little sense of urgency from those charged with protecting our borders”.