The United Kingdom has deported 44 Nigerian and Ghanaian asylum seekers, marking the highest number of deportations in a single flight to date. According to a report by The Guardian, this development is part of an intensified crackdown on illegal immigration by the UK government.
The deportation occurred just 48 hours after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a controversial agreement to relocate migrants arriving on small boats to the Chagos Islands. These migrants would be sent to St. Helena, a British territory over 5,000 miles away in the Atlantic Ocean.
Confirming the deportation, the UK Home Office revealed on Friday that the removals were part of a “major surge” in immigration enforcement. “This operation reflects our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and returning individuals who have no legal right to remain in the UK,” a Home Office spokesperson stated.
Since Prime Minister Starmer took office in July, a total of 3,600 individuals have been deported to various countries, with notable figures including 200 to Brazil and 46 to Vietnam and Timor-Leste. Additionally, deportation flights have targeted Albania, Lithuania, and Romania regularly. However, removals to Nigeria and Ghana remain rare, with only four such flights recorded since 2020.
The most recent deportation to Nigeria occurred in June, involving 13 Nigerians flown to Lagos. In contrast, this latest operation marks the largest deportation of asylum seekers from both countries since Starmer’s administration began.
One Nigerian deportee from the latest flight, who claimed he was a victim of human trafficking, saw his plea rejected by UK authorities. “I told the Home Office I was a victim of trafficking. They rejected my claim,” the deportee lamented. Another deportee, an asylum seeker who had lived in the UK for 15 years without a criminal record, similarly had his application denied.
In August, Nigeria reportedly signed a deportation agreement with the UK, allowing the return of illegal immigrants. This agreement followed the UK’s stalled asylum deal with Rwanda, which has faced legal challenges and setbacks.
As the UK government continues its hardline stance on immigration, critics have raised concerns about the fairness of the process, especially for individuals with complex asylum claims.
