The United Kingdom has taken a firm step to speed up the deportation of foreign criminals by expanding its “Deport Now, Appeal Later” scheme. The list of countries whose citizens will be deported quickly after sentencing has grown from eight to 23 nations — and now includes India. This fast-track deportation plan means foreign criminals will be sent back to their home countries before they can appeal the decision, with any appeals handled remotely through video calls.
What is the ‘Deport Now, Appeal Later’ Scheme?
The UK’s “Deport Now, Appeal Later” policy is designed to stop foreign criminals from staying in the country for long periods while waiting for their deportation appeals. Under this scheme, once foreign nationals are sentenced for crimes, they will be deported immediately. If they want to challenge the sentence, they can do so from their home country via remote video hearings. This helps reduce delays that have previously allowed some offenders to remain in the UK for months or even years after serving their sentences.
This approach aims to protect the integrity of the UK’s immigration system and make sure the law is respected. Officials say the system was being exploited, and this expansion is part of a broader effort to crack down on rising migration problems and delays in removing foreign offenders.
New Countries Added to the Fast-Track Deportation List
Before the recent expansion, the scheme included eight countries: Finland, Nigeria, Estonia, Albania, Belize, Mauritius, Tanzania, and Kosovo. Now, the list has nearly tripled to 23 countries. The new additions include India, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Uganda, and Zambia.
This means that foreign nationals from these countries, if convicted of crimes in the UK, will face immediate deportation after sentencing. Appeals can still be made but only from outside the UK. Discussions are ongoing to include even more countries in this fast-track deportation program.
The UK government is actively working with foreign nations to expand the list, aiming to ensure more foreign criminals can be swiftly returned to their home countries. The UK’s foreign office highlighted this diplomatic push as part of a wider effort to maintain safe and secure immigration controls.
Why Is the UK Expanding This Program?
The UK’s home office states that this new system will save British taxpayers money and reduce the number of foreign criminals lingering in the UK after serving prison sentences. Currently, foreign offenders make up about 12 percent of the UK’s prison population. On average, it costs the government around £54,000 per year to keep one prisoner incarcerated.
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Since July 2024, over 5,200 foreign nationals have been deported under the current schemes — a rise of 14 percent compared to the previous year. The government believes that by quickly removing foreign criminals, it can prevent offenders from abusing the immigration system and ensure public safety.
The UK’s home secretary said that for too long, foreign criminals have exploited immigration rules to delay deportation. This new policy sends a clear message that the UK’s laws will be enforced and respected. It also ensures offenders cannot manipulate the system to remain in the country longer than necessary.
With this fast-track deportation plan, the UK aims to restore control over immigration and protect communities from the impact of crime committed by foreign nationals. It is part of the government’s wider plan to address rising migration concerns and speed up the removal process for foreign offenders.
