Reform UK has announced plans to construct dozens of immigration detention centres in constituencies that voted for the Green Party. The move, described as provocative by critics, would see facilities designed to hold up to 24,000 people placed in areas where the public has supported a party committed to 'a world without borders'.
Mass Deportation Act
Under the proposed 'Mass Deportation Act', local authorities would lose the power to block unwanted facilities, leaving residents with little recourse. Reform UK has committed to deporting up to one million foreign nationals over five years if it gains power at the next general election.
Those identified for removal would be offered a plane ticket and £1,000 in cash to help them start anew in their home country. Individuals who refuse to leave voluntarily would be detained and removed forcibly.
Detention Capacity
Reform UK stated that the plan requires the ability to detain up to 24,000 people at any one time—almost ten times the current capacity of existing immigration removal centres. Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, argued that it is 'fair' to build such facilities in areas that have shown enthusiasm for open borders immigration policies.
Mr Yusuf offered a guarantee that none of the detention centres would be built in constituencies that elect Reform MPs or are controlled by Reform councils. He said: 'Reform UK has committed to deporting all illegal migrants in Britain, a policy the majority of British people support. In order to do so, we will need to detain migrants while they await deportation. Even though illegal migrants will not be allowed to leave the sites, we are committing to not placing these detention sites in areas with a Reform MP or where Reform controls the council. Given the Green Party advocate for open borders and for an infinite number of undocumented men to come here, we will prioritise Green constituencies and Green controlled councils to locate these detention centres. This is the fairest approach to ensuring democratic consent for all aspects of our mass deportation programme.'
Deportation Programme
Nigel Farage has pledged that a Reform government would stop migrant boats within months of taking office. The party also plans a major deportation programme that could see the removal of hundreds of thousands of people who have arrived in recent years. Up to 400,000 people granted asylum could have their status revoked if they are found to have arrived illegally, claimed refugee status after overstaying a visa, or arrived from countries now considered safe.
The Green Party's 'world without borders' policy advocates for an amnesty for asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected and calls for a 'fair and humane system of managed immigration where people can move if they wish to do so'. It states that immigration should not be treated as a criminal offence 'under any circumstances' and suggests that new arrivals should be treated as 'citizens in waiting'.
Controversy and Legal Changes
Immigration removal centres, such as Yarl's Wood in Bedfordshire, have often proven controversial with local communities. Reform's Mass Deportation (Detention) Act would give ministers 'absolute discretion' over the siting of new detention centres, sweeping away current laws and offering no legal right to appeal. The party has also pledged to scrap a series of human rights commitments to speed up removals, including ending the UK's membership of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
