On October 18, 2024, the UK made headlines by deporting a record 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians on a single flight. This action, confirmed by the Home Office, is part of a significant increase in immigration enforcement since the Labour government took power. In just a few months, around 3,600 individuals have been returned to various countries as part of this initiative.

Deportations to Nigeria and Ghana have been rare in recent years, with only four flights recorded since 2020. Previous flights carried far fewer deportees, with numbers ranging from six to 21. This recent flight marks a dramatic escalation in the UK’s deportation efforts.

The news of these deportations comes alongside an announcement regarding asylum seekers. Those who arrive in Diego Garcia before a treaty between the UK and Mauritius concerning the Chagos Islands is finalized will be sent to Saint Helena, known as one of the most remote places on Earth.

Inside the Brook House immigration removal center near Gatwick, some deportees shared their troubling experiences. One Nigerian man attempted suicide during his detention, which deeply affected his cellmate. Another man, who has lived in the UK as an asylum seeker for 15 years and has no criminal record, expressed his despair over the rejection of his asylum claim.

Fizza Qureshi, the CEO of the Migrants’ Rights Network, voiced her concerns about the treatment of those being deported. She highlighted the speed and secrecy of the process and the lack of legal support for detainees. One deportee summed up the situation by stating, “The Home Office is playing politics with people’s lives. We have not done anything wrong other than cry for help.”

In response, a Home Office spokesperson emphasized that the government is focused on enforcing immigration laws, stating that over 3,600 individuals have been returned since taking office.