The United Kingdom recently deported a significant number of Nigerians and Ghanaians, marking a sharp increase in immigration enforcement. According to The UK Guardian, 44 West African nationals, including individuals from Nigeria and Ghana, were deported last Friday.
The UK Home Office confirmed that this action was part of a “major surge” in efforts to enforce immigration rules and expedite the return of individuals without legal residency rights. Reports indicate that such a large-scale deportation to these nations has not occurred in recent years, with only four similar cases recorded since 2020.
In an interview with The Guardian, some of the deported Nigerians expressed feelings of shock and distress. One individual, who had lived in the UK for 15 years as an asylum seeker, stated, “I have no criminal record, but the Home Office has refused my claim.” Another detainee expressed being “very traumatized” by the experience.
A spokesperson for the Home Office emphasized, “We have already begun delivering a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity to remove people with no right to be in the UK.” They added that over 3,600 individuals had been returned within the first two months of the current government’s administration.
