UK Expands Deportation Policy: What It Means for Foreign Criminals

The UK government has announced a significant expansion of its deportation policy, adding India to a list of countries from which foreign criminals can be removed before their appeals are heard. This initiative aims to tackle rising migration issues and streamline the deportation process. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the need to prevent foreign criminals from exploiting the immigration system. The new measures will allow for remote appeal hearings and are part of a broader strategy to enhance international cooperation on immigration enforcement. With an increase in deportations since the Labour government took office, the changes are set to impact many foreign nationals currently in custody. Read on to learn more about the implications of this policy shift.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 11, 2025, 14:47 IST

New Deportation Measures Announced

In a significant policy shift, the UK government has announced that India will be included in an expanded list of countries from which foreign criminals can be deported before their appeals are processed. This move is part of a broader strategy to address the increasing migration issues faced by the UK.

The Home Office revealed on Sunday that the 'Deport Now Appeal Later' initiative will grow from eight to 23 countries, allowing for the deportation of foreign nationals before they can contest their removal.

Individuals whose human rights claims have been denied will still have the opportunity to participate in their appeal hearings remotely from their home countries via video technology.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the need to end the exploitation of the immigration system by foreign criminals, stating, 'Those who commit crimes in our country cannot be allowed to manipulate the system.'

The remote hearing scheme, which was reintroduced in 2023, previously included countries such as Finland, Nigeria, and Kosovo. Now, it will also encompass nations like Angola, Australia, and Canada.

The UK government is actively engaging with additional countries to expand this deportation scheme further.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy noted that the initiative aims to enhance international partnerships to ensure the swift return of foreign criminals, allowing them to appeal safely from their home countries.

According to the Home Office, the previous system allowed offenders from the original list to remain in the UK for extended periods, placing an additional financial burden on taxpayers.

Since the Labour government took office in July 2024, approximately 5,200 foreign nationals have been deported, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.

The government is also moving to legislate that asylum seekers convicted of serious sexual offenses can lose their right to refugee protection under new provisions in the Borders Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

An investment of GBP 5 million has been allocated for the deployment of specialized staff across nearly 80 prisons in England and Wales to expedite deportations.

The Ministry of Justice has announced further changes to legislation, allowing most foreign prisoners to be deported after serving just 30% of their sentence, rather than the previous 50%.

This reform aims to facilitate the immediate deportation of criminals, barring them from re-entering the UK.

However, individuals convicted of serious crimes, such as terrorism or murder, will still need to complete their sentences before being considered for deportation.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated, 'Deportations are up under this government, and with this new law, they will happen earlier than ever before.'

These new measures will apply to all foreign national offenders currently in custody and those newly sentenced, with legislation expected to be introduced in the next parliamentary session.

Official data indicates that foreign offenders constitute about 12% of the total prison population, with the average cost of housing a prisoner being GBP 54,000 annually.