The United Kingdom has deported 43 individuals to Ghana and Nigeria as part of its intensified efforts to enhance border security under the “Plan for Change” immigration policy.
This group included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign nationals who had completed prison sentences in the UK. Notably, seven of the individuals returned voluntarily. The charter flight, which departed on Thursday, marks the second deportation operation to these countries since the current government took office, bringing the total number of returnees to 87.
UK officials assert that this operation reflects a strengthening partnership between the British government and their counterparts in Accra and Abuja to combat irregular migration and enforce immigration laws.
Angela Eagle, the UK’s Minister for Border Security and Asylum, stated, “This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders. Through the Plan for Change, we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here, and closing expensive asylum hotels.” She expressed gratitude to the governments of Ghana and Nigeria for facilitating the operation, highlighting their joint commitment to disrupt organized immigration crime.
According to the Home Office, over 24,000 people have been returned since the current administration took office, representing an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Deportations of foreign national offenders have also risen by 16%, with 3,594 criminals removed.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling irregular migration. “Working with other countries and partners around the world is critical to addressing this global challenge,” she noted. “I welcome our strong cooperation with Ghana and Nigeria to return those with no right to be in the UK, secure our borders, and deliver on the Plan for Change.”
The UK government has assured that all deportations are conducted in a “dignified and respectful manner.” This operation follows the recent Organised Immigration Crime Summit hosted by the UK, which gathered representatives from over 40 countries—including Ghana and Nigeria—to advance global efforts against human smuggling and irregular migration.
The Plan for Change is a key strategy of the UK government aimed at tightening border controls, reducing asylum backlogs, and repatriating individuals without legal rights to remain in the country.
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