London – In a move signaling a hardening stance on immigration, the UK Home Office confirmed the deportation of a record 44 Nigerian and Ghanaian nationals on a single flight Friday. This action comes amidst a wider escalation of immigration enforcement and returns, with over 3,600 people deported to various countries since the Labour government took office in July.
The deportations coincide with a controversial new policy directing asylum seekers arriving in Diego Garcia to the isolated island of Saint Helena. This decision has sparked criticism from human rights groups, who argue that it further limits access to legal support and asylum processing for those seeking refuge.
While the Home Office defends the deportations as a necessary measure to “ensure the rules are respected and enforced,” concerns have been raised about the speed and secrecy surrounding the process. The Guardian spoke to several Nigerian detainees at Brook House removal centre near Gatwick who reported a lack of access to legal representation and fear for their safety upon return. One detainee described the Home Office as “playing politics with people’s lives.”
Fizza Qureshi, chief executive of Migrants’ Rights Network, expressed shock at the “cruelty of these deportations,” highlighting the lack of access to legal support and the rapid nature of the removals.
This surge in deportations comes as Channel crossings continue, with over 600 people making the perilous journey in small boats on Friday alone. The tragic death of a baby off the coast of France on Thursday underscores the dangers faced by those seeking asylum in the UK.
The government’s intensified approach to immigration enforcement has fueled debate, with some advocating for even stricter measures, including “mass deportations” to deter illegal migration. Others have expressed concern over the potential human rights implications of these policies and the treatment of vulnerable individuals within the asylum system.
