Labour Government's Tough Stance on Immigration Leads to Record High Deportations, Critics Say
A staggering 60,000 unauthorized migrants and convicted criminals have been removed or deported from the UK since Labour took office, according to the Home Office. The figure is the highest in a decade, with 15,200 people being forcibly ejected from the country during this period due to immigration status issues.
The department's statement revealed that deportation numbers of foreign national offenders increased by 32%, with over 8,700 individuals being sent abroad under Labour's rule. In contrast, nearly 43,000 people left voluntarily after being informed they were in the UK without proper authorization.
Critics say the Home Office's approach is misguided and based on "harmful stereotypes" equating migration with crime. Praxis CEO Minnie Rahman stated that many individuals labeled as "foreign national offenders" have lived in the UK for most of their lives, having a legitimate right to reside there. She described the government's stance as "unjust, divisive, and deeply damaging."
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants' spokesperson Griff Ferris warned that the Home Office is perpetuating cruelty and violence by pursuing mass deportations while eroding rights protections. He called it an "openly fascist rhetoric" from the home secretary.
Freedom from Torture Director Natasha Tsangarides expressed concerns about the government's proposed changes to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which could undermine global human rights standards. Chipping away at this protection could trigger a domino effect worldwide and do the dirty work of repressive regimes abroad.
As Labour's government struggles in recent polls behind Reform UK and the Tories, they have pledged to ramp up deportations, curb small boat Channel crossings, and end asylum hotel usage by the end of the parliament. The Home Office is set to introduce legislation restricting appeal routes for unauthorized migrants facing removal.
A staggering 60,000 unauthorized migrants and convicted criminals have been removed or deported from the UK since Labour took office, according to the Home Office. The figure is the highest in a decade, with 15,200 people being forcibly ejected from the country during this period due to immigration status issues.
The department's statement revealed that deportation numbers of foreign national offenders increased by 32%, with over 8,700 individuals being sent abroad under Labour's rule. In contrast, nearly 43,000 people left voluntarily after being informed they were in the UK without proper authorization.
Critics say the Home Office's approach is misguided and based on "harmful stereotypes" equating migration with crime. Praxis CEO Minnie Rahman stated that many individuals labeled as "foreign national offenders" have lived in the UK for most of their lives, having a legitimate right to reside there. She described the government's stance as "unjust, divisive, and deeply damaging."
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants' spokesperson Griff Ferris warned that the Home Office is perpetuating cruelty and violence by pursuing mass deportations while eroding rights protections. He called it an "openly fascist rhetoric" from the home secretary.
Freedom from Torture Director Natasha Tsangarides expressed concerns about the government's proposed changes to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which could undermine global human rights standards. Chipping away at this protection could trigger a domino effect worldwide and do the dirty work of repressive regimes abroad.
As Labour's government struggles in recent polls behind Reform UK and the Tories, they have pledged to ramp up deportations, curb small boat Channel crossings, and end asylum hotel usage by the end of the parliament. The Home Office is set to introduce legislation restricting appeal routes for unauthorized migrants facing removal.
. 60,000 people being deported or removed from the country since Labour took office is just insane! 
It's not fair on innocent people who've been living here for years and have families to care for. We should be focusing on integrating new arrivals into our communities, not kicking them out. I think this whole "harmful stereotypes" thing is just a fancy way of saying we're scared of change 
.
i wish we could see beyond stereotypes and just give each other a fair shot at living our lives.
it feels like we're heading in the wrong direction. let's hope ppl in power realize the harm they might be causing
not just the stats or figures. What if these people have families, jobs, friends... everything waiting for them in their home country? shouldn't we be trying to help, not hurt? 
that's crazy! i think its really unfair on those ppl who are just trying to make a new life for themselves they dont deserve to be treated like this 
. These deportations are causing so much harm to families, communities, and individuals who just want to live in peace.
. Deportations should only happen when someone has broken the law, not as a blanket policy. It's time for a more compassionate and fair approach to immigration 
. But now they're just being chased out by the government because of their nationality or background 
. And what about those who are genuinely seeking asylum? They deserve our help and protection 
. This Home Secretary is just stirring up trouble with her rhetoric...it's not fair to innocent people 
. We need more empathy and understanding in politics, not less 
60k people being deported or removed is crazy! I get why they're trying to tackle immigration issues, but deporting 15k people a year is still way too much imo. What's really scary is the Home Sec's 'fascist rhetoric' claim - it sounds like they're actually planning on punishing whole communities for their loved ones or backgrounds 
. I mean, how many actual people are being unfairly targeted here? And what about those who've been living in the UK for years and have done nothing wrong? It's all a bit too convenient for my taste... 
. I'm not saying immigration is perfect, but we gotta think about the impact on these individuals and their communities. We can't just label ppl as "foreign national offenders" without considering all the factors. It's just unfair and it's gonna lead to more problems down the line 
We're talking about folks who might have been living in the UK for years, building lives and contributing to society. And now they're being labeled as "foreign national offenders" just because of a technicality? 