The Conservative Party plans to establish a US-style immigration force aimed at deporting as many as 150,000 individuals annually. This initiative will be unveiled by leader Kemi Badenoch during her inaugural address at the party conference, reports BritPanorama.
The proposal forms part of a broader strategy as the Conservatives seek to regain support amid growing concerns over immigration. Badenoch aims to create a £1.6 billion removals force, similar to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, as part of an aggressive immigration policy overhaul.
Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, over two million undocumented immigrants in the United States have either voluntarily departed or been forcibly removed. In light of this, Badenoch emphasized the need to confront the challenges posed by illegal immigration to the UK, asserting, “We must tackle the scourge of illegal immigration to Britain and secure our borders.”
Gathering party members in Manchester, she criticized Labour’s approach as ineffective, stating, “Labour offer failed gimmicks like ‘one thousand in, one out’,” and dismissed the Reform Party’s proposals as non-viable.
Under the Conservative plan, if successful in the next election, all new illegal migrants would be deported within a week of their arrival in the UK. The envisioned “Removals Force” would possess extensive powers, including the use of facial recognition technology to identify individuals subject to removal.
Police would be required to perform immigration checks on everyone they stop, and illegal migrants would be restricted from claiming asylum. Asylum eligibility would be limited to individuals fleeing imminent threats from their governments. Furthermore, immigration tribunals would be eliminated, and access to legal aid for these cases would be denied.
Badenoch has also expressed strong intentions to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights, a legal framework often utilized in opposition to deportations. Critics argue her policies echo those of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, particularly regarding stringent border controls and environmental regulations.
While some Conservative MPs are reportedly holding onto letters urging Badenoch’s resignation for potential future use, analysts predict any leadership challenge is more probable after the municipal elections in May. In response to concerns surrounding her leadership, Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho remarked, “Kemi’s had one of the toughest jobs in politics,” recognizing the challenges faced by new leaders in the aftermath of electoral defeats.
As the Conservative immigration narrative unfolds, a Labour spokesperson has remarked, “The Conservatives’ message on immigration is; we got everything wrong, we won’t apologize, now trust us. It won’t wash.”
