Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing to unveil what officials describe as the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times when she addresses MPs next Monday.
Danish-Inspired Immigration Shakeup
The proposed changes, modelled closely on Denmark's hardline asylum system, aim to make the UK less attractive to illegal immigrants while streamlining deportation processes. Home Office officials visited Denmark last month to study their border control and asylum policies firsthand.
Mahmood's plans include significant alterations to human rights legislation that would make it easier to deport people who arrive in the UK via small boat crossings across the Channel. According to reports, the reforms will require judges to prioritise public safety over migrants' rights to family life or concerns about potential "inhuman" treatment in their home countries.
Record Removal Numbers and Ongoing Challenges
The announcement comes as the Home Office revealed it has removed or deported 48,560 people from the UK since Labour took power, representing a 23% increase in removals compared to the 16 months before last year's election. This figure includes refused asylum seekers, foreign criminals, and others without legal status.
"Nearly 50,000 illegal migrants have been removed or deported since the election," Mahmood stated. "We've ramped up enforcement, deported foreign criminals from our streets, and saved taxpayers millions. I pledge today to scale up the removal and deportations of illegal migrants and do whatever it takes to secure our borders."
Despite these efforts, small boat crossings remain a significant political challenge for the government. Current figures show that 39,075 people have made the Channel crossing this year - a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and 43% higher than 2023 numbers, though still 5% below the peak year of 2022.
Implementation and International Models
The government has already begun implementing some measures, including returning approximately 100 people to France under a "one in, one out" returns agreement for small boat arrivals. However, the system faced scrutiny when the Home Office confirmed a second man had re-entered the UK by small boat after being returned to France under this arrangement.
Denmark's approach, which includes tighter rules on family reunions and restricting some refugees to temporary stays, has shown effectiveness in what researchers describe as "negative nation branding." A 2017 study indicated this strategy successfully limited asylum applications to Denmark, though other research suggests deterrence policies often have limited impact on asylum seekers' choice of destination.
The Home Office maintains that the immediate detection and detention of the individual who re-entered demonstrates the system is functioning as intended, and he will be deported back to France shortly.
