Britain’s right wing populist party Reform UK has unveiled what it describes as radical proposals to curb irregular migration, including the creation of a new deportation agency modelled on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement system.
Speaking in London, party leader Nigel Farage outlined plans to establish a dedicated enforcement body tasked with identifying, detaining and deporting thousands of undocumented migrants. The proposal forms part of a broader immigration platform that the party says would dramatically reduce net migration and tighten border controls.
Reform UK argues that current enforcement mechanisms are inadequate and has pledged to streamline deportation procedures, expand detention capacity and increase removals. The proposed agency would operate separately from existing structures within the Home Office, with a mandate focused specifically on immigration enforcement.
In addition to the new deportation body, the party signalled it would consider withdrawing the UK from certain international human rights frameworks if legal constraints were seen to hinder removals. Reform UK has previously criticised the role of the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that rulings have limited the government’s ability to deport individuals.
The announcement comes as immigration remains one of the most contentious political issues in Britain. Official data in recent years has shown elevated levels of net migration, while crossings of the English Channel in small boats have drawn sustained public and political scrutiny. Reform UK has characterised the situation as a crisis requiring structural overhaul rather than incremental reform.
The party’s proposals echo elements of enforcement models used in the United States, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement carries out interior enforcement and deportation operations. Critics of the US system have raised concerns over civil liberties, detention conditions and due process, while supporters argue that firm enforcement deters unlawful entry.
Reform UK is currently polling strongly ahead of a general election due no later than August 2029. Its platform centres on immigration control, tax reductions and institutional reform. The party claims that tougher enforcement would restore public confidence in border management and reduce pressure on housing, public services and welfare systems.
Opposition figures and human rights advocates have criticised the proposals as legally complex and potentially destabilising. Leaving or renegotiating international human rights commitments would require significant legislative action and could face legal and diplomatic challenges. Critics also argue that migration policy must balance enforcement with humanitarian obligations and labour market realities.
Business groups have warned that abrupt reductions in migration could affect sectors reliant on foreign workers, including healthcare, agriculture and hospitality. Analysts note that while immigration remains politically sensitive, it is also closely tied to economic growth, workforce shortages and demographic trends.
Reform UK maintains that its approach would prioritise border integrity and national sovereignty. The debate is likely to intensify as the election cycle approaches, with immigration policy shaping the broader political landscape in the United Kingdom.
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