Immigration Act 1971

[F1 25 Assisting unlawful immigration to member State U.K.

(1) A person commits an offence if he—

(a) does an act which facilitates the commission of a breach of immigration law by an individual who is not a citizen of the European Union,

(b) knows or has reasonable cause for believing that the act facilitates the commission of a breach of immigration law by the individual, and

(c) knows or has reasonable cause for believing that the individual is not a citizen of the European Union.

(2) In subsection (1) “immigration law” means a law which has effect in a member State and which controls, in respect of some or all persons who are not nationals of the State, entitlement to—

(a) enter the State,

(b) transit across the State, or

(c) be in the State.

(3) A document issued by the government of a member State certifying a matter of law in that State—

(a) shall be admissible in proceedings for an offence under this section, and

(b) shall be conclusive as to the matter certified.

[F2 (4) Subsection (1) applies to things done whether inside or outside the United Kingdom.]

(6) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, to a fine or to both, or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.]

[F3 (7) In this section—

(a) a reference to a member State includes a reference to a State on a list prescribed for the purposes of this section by order of the Secretary of State (to be known as the “Section 25 List of Schengen Acquis States”), and

(b) a reference to a citizen of the European Union includes a reference to a person who is a national of a State on that list.

(8) An order under subsection (7)(a)—

(a) may be made only if the Secretary of State thinks it necessary for the purpose of complying with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the [F4 EU] Treaties,

(b) may include transitional, consequential or incidental provision,

(c) shall be made by statutory instrument, and

(d) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 25-25C substituted (10.2.2003) for s. 25 by 2002 c. 41, s. 143 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F2 S. 25(4) substituted for s. 25(4)(5) (31.1.2008) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 30(1), 59; S.I. 2008/99, art. 2(l)

F3 S. 25(7)(8) added (1.10.2004) by Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19), s. 1(1); S.I. 2004/2523, art. 2, Sch.

F4 Word in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 6 (with arts. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))