UK Expands Deportation Program for Foreign Offenders

The British government has announced a major expansion of its deportation policy, requiring more foreign nationals to lodge appeals against convictions from outside the United Kingdom.

The move aims to speed up removals and prevent delays in deportation proceedings.

Under the new policy, the number of countries covered by the deport first, appeal later scheme will almost triple to 23. Offenders from these countries will be removed immediately after conviction, before being able to challenge their sentences in person.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that legislation will be amended so that most foreign offenders are deported as soon as sentencing is complete. Foreign nationals currently make up around 12% of the prison population, and the government says the change will save public money and reduce pressure on overcrowded prisons.

The expansion comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government faces growing political pressure over immigration, with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party gaining momentum in opinion polls by focusing on crime and border control. Since taking office a year ago, Labour has introduced several measures aimed at tightening immigration enforcement and addressing crime.

According to the Home Office, the extended policy will significantly increase the UK’s capacity to remove foreign offenders at the earliest opportunity. Official figures show that 5,200 convicted offenders with foreign passports were deported between July 2024 and July 2025, marking a 14% rise compared to the previous year.

Under the scheme, deported individuals can continue their appeals from their home countries through video link. 

The policy has already been applied to nationals from Tanzania, Finland, Estonia and several other countries, and will now include 15 additional nations such as Latvia, Bulgaria, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Lebanon and Malaysia.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the reforms will close loopholes used by offenders to delay deportation and reinforce the principle that those committing crimes in the UK will not be allowed to exploit the system.