Reform UK’s proposed deportation agency would not resemble the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement model, the party’s home affairs spokesman has insisted.
Zia Yusuf rejected comparisons between Reform’s planned “UK Deportation Command” and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following controversy surrounding enforcement operations in the United States under Donald Trump.
Speaking at a press conference in Dover, Yusuf said it was “very tempting” and “somewhat inevitable” for critics to draw parallels with the US. Still, he argued the UK’s legal framework and policing model are designed to ensure fairness and respect for rights, which are fundamentally different, to reassure the public about the integrity of the policy.
Under a Reform government, the party says it would establish a dedicated unit to “track down, detain and deport” people residing in the UK illegally, with a stated ambition of removing up to 288,000 individuals per year, highlighting concerns about operational capacity and human rights safeguards that should be addressed.
Yusuf said it was “not true” that the body would face the same issues seen in parts of the US, including an immigration crackdown in Minnesota that led to detentions, protests and fatalities, emphasising the importance of understanding different enforcement models.
“This notion that we’re going to have the same issues that have come sharply into focus internationally as a result of Trump’s ICE programme – it’s just not true,” he said.
“We would not expect the UK Deportation Command to carry weapons. It’s not going to be the case.”
He added that policing in Britain is “much more done by consent” and that the UK does not face the same issues around firearms prevalence.
However, Yusuf made clear that enforcement would be firm and effective, ensuring that illegal residents are detected, detained, and deported without compromise.
“If you’re in this country illegally, they will detect you, and they will detain you, and they’ll deport you.”
Yusuf also criticised the role of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that the rights of British citizens are being overshadowed by those of criminals, and emphasising that leaving the treaty is a necessary step to restore balance and sovereignty.
Reform has pledged to withdraw from the treaty, a move that would mark a significant constitutional shift and could face legal, diplomatic, and human rights challenges, which should be elaborated to inform policymakers and the public about potential consequences, fostering trust through transparency.
At the press conference, Yusuf cited cases in which courts blocked deportations of individuals who had committed crimes, arguing such rulings demonstrated systemic imbalance.
“How many more people must die at the hands of those who should never have been in our country in the first place?” he said.
“The answer is none. Vote Reform. We will leave the ECHR and end this madness.”
Immigration is expected to remain a central battleground in the run-up to the next general election, with Reform positioning itself as the most hardline major UK party on enforcement.
Any attempt to withdraw from the ECHR would require substantial legislative change and could have implications for trade agreements, devolution settlements and international obligations.
The debate is likely to intensify as parties set out competing visions for border control, human rights protections and the UK’s relationship with European legal institutions.
