UK Records Highest Migrant Deportations Since 2018 Under Labour Government

Prime Minister Keir Starmer claims the deportation strategy deters illegal migration more effectively than the scrapped Rwanda scheme.

The UK government has deported 16,400 individuals, including foreign criminals and refused asylum seekers, since Labour took office in July 2024, marking the highest six-month total since 2018.
Labour redirected resources from the Conservative Party's unimplemented Rwanda scheme to focus on deportations and dismantling people-smuggling networks.
Enforced deportations have risen by 24% compared to the previous year, with 2,580 foreign criminals among those removed.
Prime Minister Starmer introduced new sanctions targeting people-smugglers, aiming to seize their UK assets and disrupt their operations.
Critics, including the Conservative Party, argue that only a small fraction of small boat arrivals have been deported, claiming Labour’s strategy is insufficient to deter illegal crossings.