Reform promises agency to ensure illegal migrant removals

BBC World

February 23, 2026

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Reform UK's new home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf has unveiled ambitious plans to establish an agency tasked with deporting illegal migrants on a large scale. In his first speech, Yusuf announced the creation of a UK Deportation Command under Operation Restoring Justice, which would involve tracking down, detaining, and deporting all illegal migrants using five chartered flights daily. To ensure efficiency, he also proposed keeping an RAF plane standby for mechanical issues, guaranteeing no delays in the deportation process. Yusuf's plans have sparked strong reactions from other political parties. Labour criticized the proposal as a "direct attack on settled families," while the Conservatives accused Reform of copying their policies. Despite these criticisms, Yusuf remained steadfast, arguing that the UK is facing an "invasion" of migrants and that public patience has been exhausted. He described the nearly 200,000 small boat arrivals over eight years as "more than the invasion of Normandy," emphasizing the urgency of action. In addition to deportations, Yusuf outlined measures to protect British culture, including new rules preventing churches from being converted into mosques and a ban on face coverings in public spaces. He also proposed denying visas to countries that refuse to accept their citizens deported from the UK, targeting nations like Pakistan, which has the highest overstay rates. Yusuf argued that these policies would aid integration, improve public safety, and ensure British cultural identity is preserved. The reform package, modeled at £2 billion annually, was presented as a cost-effective solution to address the financial burden of housing illegal migrants in the UK. While critics argue this approach lacks compassion and risks separating families, Reform sees it as necessary to secure borders and prioritize British interests. The debate highlights broader tensions over immigration, cultural identity, and border control in the UK, issues that resonate deeply with voters and shape national political discourse.

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Originally published on BBC World on 2/23/2026