Mahmood’s 50,000 deportation claim branded a ‘deliberate deception’ by Farage ally
Zia Yusuf, the policy chief of Reform UK, has openly registered his discontent regarding the Home Secretary's assertion that nearly 50,000 illegal migrants have been deported. He branded this claim as a “deliberate deception.” Yusuf emphasized that out of the 35,052 recorded migrant departures for the year leading up to September 2025, only 9,115 involved enforced removals, which actually includes officially sanctioned detention and deportation flights.
Yusuf articulated his criticism further, asserting that many individuals classified as removed had actually departed voluntarily, often without the government's awareness. “The Home Secretary is lying to the public. 'Nearly 50,000 illegal migrants removed or deported'. Most of these people left voluntarily, many without the government's knowledge. Using the word 'removed' – an active verb implying government action – is deliberate deception,” he stated.
Critics within the political arena are positioning this incident as a significant point in the ongoing debate regarding illegal immigration and government accountability. The discrepancies highlighted by Yusuf suggest a disconnect between government representation of immigration statistics and the reality of enforced actions taken by authorities.