Labour is planning a major immigration crackdown that would allow foreign nationals to be deported if they commit any crime in the UK.
The move comes as Keir Starmer's Government attempts to address growing public concerns about immigration levels and counter the electoral threat posed by Nigel Farage's party - with one recent poll putting Reform UK ten points ahead of Labour.
Currently, foreign criminals are only reported to the Home Office if they receive a jail sentence, with deportation typically considered only for those given at least a year behind bars.
Under Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's plans, the Home Office will be informed of all foreign nationals convicted of any offence, while officials will receive expanded powers to remove them from the UK.
Migrants could be deported if convicted of any crime under Labour crackdown as Keir Starmer responds to threat of Reform UK
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The policy aims to close a loophole that currently allows migrants who commit knife crimes, thefts, criminal damage and violence against women to avoid deportation risk.
The measures are expected to be included in the Government's White Paper on immigration being published tomorrow.
Cooper has advocated for radical policies to address immigration concerns following Labour's disappointing performance in this month's local elections.
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Reform UK's Richard Tice has previously called the illegal migration situation 'totally unacceptable'
PAThe plans also specify that any foreign national placed on the Sex Offenders Register, regardless of sentence length, will be classified as having committed a 'serious crime' with no right to asylum protections in the UK.
A Home Office source indicated new measures could be introduced to cancel visas for those who commit crimes before they establish roots in Britain.
Nigel Farage dismissed the proposals, telling The Mail on Sunday: "This is a promise that we keep hearing from our governments. They never deliver."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the White Paper "a white flag" and accused Labour of lacking "grip, guts, and plan."
An image of illegal migrants arriving in the UKPAThe White Paper will reportedly include plans to restrict failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals from using human rights laws to block deportation.
Home Office officials fear that without reforms, annual net migration could settle above 340,000 and reach closer to 525,000 by 2028.
Since July 2024, the Home Office has removed 3,594 foreign criminals from the UK, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year.
The number of small boat crossings this year exceeds 11,500, over 2,000 more than the same period last year.
