Badenoch Unveils Plan to Deport 750,000 Illegal Migrants from UK in Five Years
UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has announced an ambitious immigration
enforcement plan that aims to deport 750,000 illegal migrants from the United Kingdom over the
next five years.
Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Sunday, Badenoch said her
proposal would involve the creation of a new “Removals Force”, modeled after the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The force, according to her, would strengthen Britain’s capacity to identify, detain, and deport undocumented migrants more efficiently.
“We will not allow Britain’s immigration system to be exploited any longer,” Badenoch
declared. “Our borders must be secure, and our laws must be respected.”
Under the plan, the government would target 150,000 deportations per year, backed by an
estimated £1.6 billion annual budget — about double the current spending on immigration
enforcement.
The plan also proposes significant legal reforms, including:
* Banning asylum claims from migrants who enter the country illegally.
* Repealing or replacing the Human Rights Act.
* Reviewing Britain’s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
* Limiting appeal rights and cutting legal aid for immigration-related cases.
Badenoch described the move as essential to “restore public confidence” in Britain’s border
policies and reduce what she called “record levels of illegal migration.”
However, the plan has sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties, human rights
advocates, and legal experts.
Labour Party representatives accused the Conservative leader of “pandering to far-right
rhetoric,” while Amnesty International warned that the proposed measures could “breach
international human rights obligations” and “undermine the UK’s global standing.”
Legal analysts also questioned the feasibility of deporting such a large number of people, citing
logistical, diplomatic, and legal challenges. Many deportations in recent years have been delayed
by court injunctions or blocked by human rights claims.
Despite the backlash, Badenoch defended the proposal, saying it reflected the will of ordinary
Britons who “want fairness and control restored to the immigration system.”
The plan is seen as part of Badenoch’s strategy to position the Conservatives as the party of
strong border control ahead of the next general election, amid growing competition from Reform
UK and other right-wing parties.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
