‘I’ll deport 150,000 illegal migrants each year’ – Badenoch unveils strict UK immigration plan

In a bold and controversial move, Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has unveiled an ambitious immigration reform plan that aims to reshape the country’s approach to illegal migration. Dubbed the Radical Borders Plan, Badenoch promises to detain and deport up to 150,000 illegal migrants each year, declaring these reforms as “the toughest Britain has ever seen” in terms of border control. Her announcement came through a striking video shared on her X account, capturing attention across the nation.

Central to her plan is the creation of a new Removals Force, inspired by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This body would replace the current Immigration Enforcement unit within the Home Office, focusing on identifying, detaining, and deporting undocumented migrants and foreign offenders, while also cracking down on illegal employment practices. “My message is clear: if you’re here illegally, you will be detained and deported,” Badenoch asserted firmly.

Badenoch didn’t hold back in her critique of past governments, both Conservative and Labour, for their handling of immigration. “Successive governments have failed on immigration policy,” she expressed, highlighting the dramatic increase in illegal arrivals and the financial burdens stemming from the current system. “It’s time for Britain to embrace a serious, credible plan and show the backbone to enforce it.”

Among the most provocative elements of her agenda are proposals to ban asylum claims from illegal entrants, repeal the Human Rights Act, and remove the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). She envisions a streamlined process where new illegal arrivals could be deported within a week, while countries refusing to accept their nationals back would face visa sanctions. Badenoch is also committed to dismantling what she calls the “asylum hotel racket,” with the goal of saving taxpayers billions and restoring confidence in the management of the borders.

The proposed Removals Force would be equipped with an annual budget of £1.6 billion—double that of the existing Immigration Enforcement unit—partially funded by cutting expenses on asylum hotels and reforming the overall asylum system. With sweeping powers, including the use of facial recognition technology without advance notice, this new agency would prioritize targeting newcomers who enter illegally, foreign criminals, failed asylum seekers, and visa overstayers.

When confronted during an appearance on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg about the fate of deported migrants, Badenoch showed little patience for the inquiry. “I’m tired of these irrelevant questions about where they should go. They will go back to where they should be or another country — but they shouldn’t be here,” she emphasized, reiterating her stance that they’ll be returned to their countries of origin.

According to a Conservative Party policy document, the target is to escalate annual deportations from approximately 34,000 to an ambitious 150,000, marking a remarkable fivefold increase. The party argues that this overhaul is critical to regaining control over immigration and restoring public faith in the country’s borders.

Badenoch’s proposal has ignited a fervent debate across the UK, pitting the need for robust border security against the imperative of protecting human rights. Critics warn that the repeal of the Human Rights Act and the expansion of surveillance powers could threaten civil liberties, while supporters hail the initiative as an essential and determined response to the rising tide of illegal migration.

The Radical Borders Plan is poised to be presented to Parliament in the upcoming months, with its ultimate fate resting on legislative approval and collaboration with current law enforcement and immigration frameworks. The stage is set for a significant shift in the UK’s immigration landscape.