More foreign criminals to be deported under expanded scheme

As the Home Office adds 15 new countries to its deport now, appeal later policy, more foreign criminals will be deported before their appeals against their removal are considered. According to the scheme, foreigners who commit crimes in the United Kingdom will be sent back to their home countries before being allowed to appeal the decision. The program's new countries, including Canada, India, and Australia, brought the total number to 23 - nearly three times more than the original eight, with the Home Office predicting that more will follow in the future. According to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the initiative is to discourage foreign criminals from exploiting our immigration system and fast-track their removals.

Foreign nationals who have denied their claim will be barred from the UK and can participate in their appeal hearings from their home countries via video connection. Cooper said previously that prisoners were able to stay in the United Kingdom for months or even years despite the appeals process.

That has to end. Many criminals in our country cannot be allowed to manipulate the system, which is why we are restoring power and giving the message that our laws must be followed and enforced,

she said. Ministers claim that increasing deportations will resolve the overcrowded prisoner crisis. Prisons in England and Wales are facing significant capacity constraints, with occupancy rates approaching 100%. In England and Wales, there are 10772 international prisoners in jail — or 12. As of June 2025, the total prison population was 33%. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own prison systems. Albanians come first with 1,193 people in jail as of June 2025, followed by 707 Irish nationals, 317 Pakistani, and 317 in terms of the nationality of foreign offenders in England and Wales. There were 774 prisoners from the 15 new countries covered by deport now, appeal later - 7% of the total international prison population. Only Indians are in the most numerous nationalities among current prisoners among the new nations. Foreign Minister David Lammy accepted the decision and said that the UK was working to expand the number of other countries where foreign criminals can be returned.

But the Conservative Party has committed to deporting all foreign criminals,

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said.

This issue is not going away until Keir Starmer decides to deport all foreign criminals or ceases to roll out the red carpet for migrants around the world.

The step comes after the justice secretary revealed on Sunday that new plans to deport foreign criminals immediately after they received a custodial sentence. Many who have been sentenced to fixed terms in England and Wales could be arrested straight away and refused to return to the UK under the plans. If international criminals abuse our hospitality and break our rules, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said, they would be sent

packing. According to the government, the new powers, which require Parliament's permission, could save taxpayers money and raise publishability. However, shadow justice minister Robert Jenrick warned that some countries may refuse to admit refugees deported. Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that if countries do not refuse to reclaim their nationalities, they should

suspend visas and foreign aid. According to the government, international prisoners account for around 12% of the prison population, with jail spaces costing $54,000 a year on average.

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