Britain’s Reform UK party has unveiled plans to establish a new deportation agency modeled on the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as part of what it describes as a radical strategy to reduce illegal migration if it comes to power.
The proposal was announced at the southern English port of Dover, a key arrival point for migrants crossing the Channel from northern France. Zia Yusuf, Reform’s policy chief on home affairs, described current immigration levels as a national security emergency and said the party would introduce an Illegal Migration Mass Deportation Act designed to compel large scale removals.
Under the plan, a newly created Deportation Command would have the capacity to remove up to 288,000 people annually. The party says the agency would operate with expanded enforcement powers and limit judicial intervention in deportation cases. Yusuf argued that such measures are necessary to restore control over borders and reverse irregular migration flows.
Reform UK is led Brexit campaign veteran Nigel Farage and has been gaining support in opinion polls ahead of the next general election, which must be held August 2029. Although the party currently holds only eight seats in the 650 member House of Commons, it has sought to position itself as a serious challenger to both the governing Labour Party and the opposition Conservatives.
Government data shows that while overall net migration to Britain declined last year, small boat arrivals across the English Channel have risen. More than 41,000 asylum seekers arrived small boat in 2025, marking the second highest annual total on record. Migration remains one of the most prominent issues among British voters.
The governing Labour Party criticized Reform’s proposals, accusing it of seeking to divide the country rather than deliver practical solutions. Labour officials say the government has already removed nearly 60,000 individuals without legal status since taking office in 2024 and is continuing to strengthen border enforcement and asylum processing systems.
Reform’s immigration platform also includes proposals to suspend certain human rights treaty commitments, halt benefit payments to foreign nationals without permanent status, and impose visa restrictions on countries that refuse to accept the return of their citizens.
Comparisons to U.S. immigration enforcement practices have drawn scrutiny, particularly following controversial operations and public debate in the United States over enforcement tactics. Yusuf stated that he did not expect Britain to experience similar controversies if the agency were established.
The party’s proposals signal an intensifying political debate over migration policy in the United Kingdom, with border control and asylum processing likely to remain central themes in the run up to the next national election.
