Reform UK Unveils Controversial Immigration Overhaul with ICE-Style Agency
Reform UK is set to announce a sweeping series of proposals aimed at tackling immigration, including the creation of a new "Trump inspired" deportation agency modelled on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The party's new home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, will deliver a speech outlining plans that promise mass deportations and significantly ramped-up surveillance measures.
Details of the Proposed Border Agency and Deportation Plans
In his address, Mr Yusuf will reveal that the proposed agency would have the capacity to detain up to 24,000 migrants simultaneously, with ambitions to deport approximately 288,000 individuals annually. The party has committed to operating five deportation flights each day if they come to power. Additionally, Reform UK plans to scrap indefinite leave to remain, replacing it with a renewable five-year work visa and a dedicated spouse visa system.
Mr Yusuf is expected to state: "For decades, the Tories and Labour have turned the other way while the very fabric of our society has been under assault. The social contract has not merely been broken; it's been shattered. Under a Reform government, His Majesty's Parliament will be sovereign once again. We will secure our borders, leave the ECHR and deport those here illegally. My message to the British people is simple: I will secure our borders and make you feel safe."
Expanded Surveillance and Counter-Terrorism Measures
The speech will also introduce a new rule mandating automatic home searches for anyone referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme by three separate, corroborating authorities. This measure forms part of a broader strategy to enhance border security and internal surveillance, which the party argues is necessary to restore public safety and national sovereignty.
Political and Human Rights Backlash
Labour has strongly condemned the proposals, with party chairwoman Anna Turley accusing Reform of divisive politics. "Reform wants to divide our country, not deliver for the British people," she said. "Their plan to deport people who have followed the rules, worked hard and built their lives here – our friends, neighbours and colleagues – is a direct attack on settled families and fundamentally un-British." Turley emphasised that Labour supports firm border control with clear rules and swift action against those without legal status, alongside broader safety measures.
Amnesty International UK has also criticised the plans, accusing Reform UK of scapegoating migrants to justify mass deportations and expanded police surveillance. The human rights organisation warned that such policies could undermine civil liberties and foster intolerance in a diverse nation.
Parallel Government Announcement on Send Reforms
In a separate development, the government is set to announce a £4 billion package to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system. This includes a £1.6 billion "inclusive mainstream fund" over three years, providing direct funding to early years, schools, and colleges. The reforms aim to make the system more inclusive through targeted interventions like small-group language work and adaptive teaching styles.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the importance of these changes, referencing his late brother Nick, who struggled with learning difficulties. "For so many children, they are held back by a system that doesn't work for them," Starmer said. "I'm not saying for a moment there haven't been huge improvements since then, but that same sense is still there of children who cannot find the opportunities and chances they need to go as far as their talents and their ability will take them."
The contrasting announcements underscore the ongoing political debates over immigration and social policy in the UK, with Reform UK pushing for stricter controls while the government focuses on inclusive education reforms.
