Nigel Farage, head of the United Kingdom’s hard-right Reform UK party, has pledged extensive deportations of asylum seekers and individuals entering the nation unlawfully, should he take office as prime minister.
Drawing parallels with President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in the United States, Farage stated his intention to promptly detain all undocumented immigrants at military installations nationwide, should his party emerge victorious in the upcoming election.
“Those who enter the UK unlawfully will be apprehended, expelled, and permanently denied residency. That is our central announcement today,” Farage declared on Tuesday.
The Reform Party, led by Farage, has seen increasing support as the Labour government contends with approximately 28,000 individuals who have arrived in the U.K. by boat in 2025. Demonstrations occurred nationwide this past weekend, targeting hotels providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Farage, a known associate of Trump and recognized internationally for his prominent role in the Brexit campaign, characterized illegal immigration as a “blight” while detailing his proposals.
“The sole method to halt these boat arrivals is to apprehend and remove every single individual who uses this route,” Farage stated. “If we implement this, the crossings will cease within days.”
His initiative, dubbed “Operation Restoring Justice,” proposes the removal of 600,000 asylum seekers, including women and children, to their home countries or to third-party states.
However, the feasibility of Farage achieving this goal remains uncertain. In June 2024, when asylum requests reached an unprecedented level, the system contained 224,742 cases, according to government data. Yet, there are currently awaiting a determination on their asylum application.
Under Farage’s proposal, the removal of asylum seekers and individuals unlawfully entering the U.K. would take place upon arrival, without any right to appeal. He acknowledges that implementing this would necessitate his party either circumventing or withdrawing from particular human rights agreements, explicitly mentioning the repeal of the 1998 Human Rights Act and withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Legal professionals have questioned the legality and practicality of Operation Restoring Justice. Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve informed a publication that British common law courts would likely obstruct the proposal. Furthermore, other specialists highlight that the expenses associated with such a large-scale deportation undertaking would be immense
Farage has openly stated his inspiration drawn from Trump’s assertive immigration enforcement in the U.S. During an interview with The Times this weekend, he made remarks concerning his proposals to return asylum seekers to nations such as Afghanistan and Eritrea. Farage indicated a willingness to compensate these countries for accepting the returning migrants.
“Our influence in these matters is substantial,” he asserted. “We have the option to be amicable or highly assertive with other nations. All the diplomatic tools at our disposal—regarding visas, trade, sanctions—can be deployed if necessary. Trump, I believe, has thoroughly demonstrated this.”
Concurrently, the Liberal Democrats promptly opposed Farage’s proposals and the concept of “dismantling” human rights conventions. Party leader Daisy Cooper commented that “Winston Churchill would be horrified.”
The U.K. has recently experienced a series of incidents, including two days of demonstrations aimed at hotels accommodating asylum seekers. These protests were ignited following allegations that a hotel resident attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl and was subsequently charged with sexual assault. This year has seen an elevated number of asylum seekers in hotels, with data indicating 32,000 individuals—an 8% rise over the specified period.
Surveys indicate that the issue of is one of —if not the—most critical concerns for voters this year.