The United Kingdom has deported 44 Nigerian and Ghanaian asylum seekers, marking the highest number of deportations in a single flight to date, according to a report by the UK Guardian.
This deportation comes just 48 hours after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a controversial deal to deport migrants arriving on small boats to the Chagos Islands, relocating them to St Helena, a British territory more than 5,000 miles away in the Atlantic Ocean.
The UK Home Office confirmed on Friday that the deportations are part of a “major surge” in immigration enforcement and returns.
Since Starmer took office in July, a total of 3,600 persons have been deported to various countries, including 200 to Brazil and 46 to Vietnam and Timor-Leste. Regular deportation flights also target Albania, Lithuania, and Romania.
However, deportations to Nigeria and Ghana have been relatively rare, with only four recorded since 2020.
The most recent deportation to Nigeria took place in June, involving 13 Nigerians flown to Lagos.
One of the Nigerian deportees from the latest flight stated he was a victim of human trafficking, but his claim was rejected by the Home Office.
“I told the Home Office I was a victim of trafficking. They rejected my claim,” he said. Another deportee, who had lived in the UK for 15 years as an asylum seeker with no criminal record, also had his application denied.
In August, Nigeria reportedly signed a deportation agreement with the UK, allowing the return of illegal immigrants.
This came after the UK’s asylum deal with Rwanda faced significant setbacks.
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