The Conservative Party has unveiled a controversial new policy that would see all foreign nationals in the UK convicted of a crime deported, regardless of the severity of their sentence. The proposal, which would amend the government’s Borders Bill, aims to remove the current threshold that only requires deportation for foreign criminals sentenced to at least one year in prison.
The policy would apply to all foreign nationals, including asylum seekers and those charged with or convicted of immigration offences. The Tories also hope to make it easier to deport foreign offenders by ending exceptions previously granted by the European Court of Human Rights.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, described the proposals as “simple,” but refugee and human rights groups have condemned the plan as “ludicrously unworkable” and a dangerous escalation of hostile rhetoric.
Tim Naor Hilton, CEO of Refugee Action, called the amendment “terrifying” and accused the government of political grandstanding. “It appears to demand the deportation of all people fleeing war and persecution who have no other option than to take irregular routes to reach safety here,” he said. “Politicians must stop threatening people with hostile and extreme policies that inflame racial hatred and encourage violence.”
Amnesty International UK urged the government to scrap the policy and overhaul existing immigration laws that undermine international obligations. Steve Valdez-Symonds, the charity’s migrant rights director, criticized the amendments as a “dog-whistle commitment to hostility for human rights.”
The Conservatives also plan to table an amendment requiring the government to stop issuing visas to nationals from countries that refuse to take back their own citizens, including criminals. This would involve changes to Section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971.
Imran Hussain, executive director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, warned that the policy would create chaos and significant costs. “We would be criminalising refugees for being on boats, trying to remove them, and then finding out they cannot be removed, leaving people languishing in detention,” he said.
Philp emphasized the need to protect British citizens from dangerous offenders, stating, “We can’t allow endless appeals and prevarication.” However, critics argue that the policy risks further straining the UK’s immigration system and violating international human rights standards.
The proposed amendments will require Labour’s support to pass, setting the stage for a heated parliamentary debate.
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