A record 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians were deported from the UK on Friday, signaling a significant escalation in immigration enforcement.
The Home Office confirmed these deportations as part of a broader increase in immigration returns, with over 3,600 individuals removed since the Labour government assumed power in July.
These efforts have involved flights not only to Brazil, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, but also ongoing deportations to Albania, Lithuania, and Romania.
This mass deportation coincides with troubling developments regarding the UK’s treatment of asylum seekers on Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean.
The UK is finalizing a treaty with Mauritius concerning the Chagos Islands, which may result in any new asylum seekers arriving on the island being sent to Saint Helena, another isolated British territory.
However, around 60 Tamils, stranded on Diego Garcia since 2021, will not be affected by this arrangement as they await a legal decision regarding their detention.
Fizza Qureshi, CEO of the Migrants’ Rights Network, slammed the deportations, criticizing the process for its speed, opacity, and lack of legal support.
She described it as “cruelty,” emphasizing the feeling of helplessness among the detainees.
In response, a Home Office spokesperson reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws, ensuring that individuals with no right to remain in the UK are returned without delay.
