The UK government has reported a significant increase in the number of foreign nationals leaving the country since Labour took office in July 2024, with nearly 60,000 individuals “returned” in the 19 months to February 2026. This represents a 15% increase compared to the preceding period, according to the Home Office.
However, recent data reveals a notable shift in the composition of these returns. January saw the lowest number of removals in almost three years, driven primarily by a decline in voluntary departures. While the overall trend remains upward, the dynamics within the figures are evolving.
Under the current administration, voluntary returns have consistently accounted for approximately three-quarters of all removals. In January , this proportion dipped to 62%, suggesting a potential tightening of enforcement measures or a change in the willingness of individuals to leave voluntarily.
The term “returns,” as used by the Home Office, encompasses a broad range of departures. This includes individuals who leave the UK of their own accord, sometimes with financial assistance, those refused entry at ports of arrival, and those subject to administrative removal or deportation action. A significant, but unquantified, portion of returns also consists of individuals leaving the UK without the Home Office being directly informed.
The reported increase in returns aligns with Labour’s stated commitment to increasing the removal of individuals without the legal right to remain in the UK. Data for the 12 months ending September showed an 11% increase in returns compared to the previous year, indicating a sustained upward trajectory prior to the recent dip in voluntary departures.
Enforced returns, which involve legal processes and often face complexities such as legal challenges and difficulties in obtaining travel documentation, tend to be slower and more resource-intensive. The recent shift towards a lower proportion of voluntary returns may indicate an increased focus on these more challenging enforced removals.
The government reported over 24,000 migrant returns between July and June , with 6,339 classified as enforced returns. This figure is consistent with a broader trend of increasing returns observed since , following a decline during the 2010s.
It’s important to note that the UK does not maintain official statistics on the number of individuals residing in the country illegally. Determining the proportion of this population that is subject to removal proves difficult. This lack of comprehensive data complicates efforts to assess the effectiveness of current immigration policies.
The figures released by the Home Office also need to be considered in the context of broader immigration trends. The data released in October showed that enforced returns accounted for 26% of all returns during Labour’s first year in government. The majority of the 35,000 total returns were voluntary departures.
Recent claims that Labour has “deported” 35,000 people since taking office are, according to fact-checking organizations, inaccurate. While approximately 35,000 individuals have left the UK under the current administration, the majority did so voluntarily, and the term “deportation” specifically refers to a subset of enforced removals following a criminal conviction or a determination that removal is conducive to the public good.
The increase in returns also comes after a period of decline during the 2010s. Data from August shows that returns from the UK increased by 25% in , reaching the highest level since .
The provisional nature of the latest data underscores the need for continued monitoring and analysis. The final figures, scheduled for release later this month, may provide a more comprehensive picture of the evolving trends in immigration returns and the effectiveness of current government policies.
