More than 4,300 migrants forcibly removed from Britain have been discovered back in the UK, according to Home Office data covering 2021 to 2025. The figures reveal 4,614 re-entry events after deportation, with 723 individuals removed on two or more occasions. This equates to over two migrants re-entering the country every day after being expelled.
The data, obtained by The Sun, does not clarify how many of those who returned remained in the UK. The Home Office acknowledges that the true numbers could be significantly higher, as it is impossible to match every individual with previous identity checks.
Albanians Top Re-Entry List
Albanians were the most prominent group among re-entries, accounting for 1,525 individuals. They were followed by Romanians (767), Afghans (281), Lithuanians (233), and Iraqis (150). The figures underscore the challenges in enforcing deportation orders and preventing illegal re-entry.
In 2025, there were 26,388 voluntary returns and 8,590 enforced returns, the latter costing an average of £48,800 per return. Despite a ‘one in, one out’ agreement with France aimed at deterring small boat crossings, only 921 migrants had been returned to France under this policy as of June 2026 – less than half the number of migrants who entered the UK in the following week alone.
Home Office Response
A Home Office spokesperson stated: “We will not accept any abuse of our borders. Individuals who are returned and subsequently attempt to re-enter the UK illegally will be caught and removed.” They added that nearly 70,000 individuals had been returned or removed since the July 2024 election to the end of March 2026, a 41% increase compared to the previous 21-month period.
The revelations come amid ongoing concerns about migration levels, with around 41,500 migrants entering the UK via small boat crossings annually. Multiple deportation flights have reportedly taken off without carrying any individuals who entered illegally, raising questions about the effectiveness of current policies.
