NEARLY 30,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and other immigration offenders have been returned since the election to countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America as a result of ramped up immigration enforcement action under this government.

The new figures mark a 12% increase in returns compared to the same period 12 months ago. The continued rise in removals also includes a 23% increase in enforced returns and a 14% increase in foreign national offenders’ removals since 5 July 2024, including the 4 biggest returns charter flights in the UK’s history, with a total of more than 850 people on board.

The surge in removals followed the government’s immediate action to redeploy staff across the Home Office to work on policies that deliver results – sending a clear message that if you are here illegally you will be returned swiftly.

The Home Office has also released a new video showing 47 people with no right to be here arriving to Albania having been returned via a UK charter flight. As well as demonstrating the inner workings of the removals process and providing insight into the post-flight processing once in country, the footage shows the important work being carried out by the UK-Albania Joint Migration Task Force, which has led to a 95% reduction in Albanian small boat arrivals over the last 3 years.

The government’s success in ramping up removals is a key part of the Plan for Change to deliver on working people’s priorities and finally restoring order to the asylum system. It is backed by launching a renewed international effort to break the business model of smuggling gangs through tougher law enforcement powers than ever before, rapidly removing those who are here illegally and ending the false promise of jobs used by gangs to sell spaces on boats.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:- "The rules need to be respected and enforced. That is why we have substantially increased immigration enforcement - taking strong action to return more foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK. The work of Immigration Enforcement teams to substantially increase illegal working raids, returns and deportations is an important part of strengthening our border security. As part of the Immigration White Paper reforms, we will strengthen the rules so that more foreign national offenders can be returned.”

Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that this government will do everything to make sure they are not free to roam Britain's streets, including removing them from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity.

It costs £132 per day to keep a foreign offender in a prison in England and Wales, highlighting the importance of this government’s commitment to removing foreign national offenders, to not only keep Britian’s streets safe but to provide value for money for the British taxpayer.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:- “Through close collaboration with partners like Albania, we are stepping up our efforts to return those with no right to be in the UK to their countries of origin. International cooperation is central to this government’s approach to irregular migration – by working globally we will deliver on the Plan for Change, secure the UK’s borders, and improve the lives of working people across the country.”

Following the success of the UK-Albania partnership, the Joint Migration Task Force, is now being expanded to include Kosovo and North Macedonia. The Taskforce brings together specialists to share intelligence, intercept smuggling gangs and deploy UK-funded technology to disrupt criminal networks operating through the Western Balkans.

Just last week, the Prime Minister announced the UK is entering discussions with a number of countries on the prospect of collaborating on returns hubs, which would target failed asylum seekers, who have exhausted all legal routes to remain in the UK, and who are currently here costing millions for the taxpayer, removed to a safe 3rd country.

Since taking office the government has reset its approach to global cooperation, striking new bilateral agreements with key international partners including France, Germany, Italy, and Balkan states to disrupt smuggling networks and accelerate removals.

Last month, 43 failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders were returned to Nigeria and Ghana. Those removed had no right to be in the UK and included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences. 7 people returned voluntarily.

The UK’s efforts to secure its borders have been supported by landmark legislation through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, exclude foreign sex offenders from refugee protections and introduce a new 24-week target to decide appeals brought by those receiving accommodation support, or who are foreign national offenders not in detention. These new measures will look to slash the asylum backlog, remove those with no right to be in the UK and strengthen border security through the Plan for Change.