Reform UK's latest immigration proposal aims to establish a UK Deportation Command modeled after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has provoked widespread condemnation from political opponents and advocacy groups. The party's home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, dismissed the criticism as 'progressive outrage' and declared a commitment to carrying out what he describes as necessary mass deportations, likening the current migration flow to an 'invasion'. This rhetoric and response have sparked concerns about the potential normalization of hostile treatment towards migrants in the UK.

In addition to creating the deportation agency, Reform UK’s immigration strategy includes heightened surveillance powers, a new renewable work visa system, and restrictions on religious conversions of spaces like churches into mosques. Yusuf's statement suggests a controversial and divisive approach aimed at rallying support from specific voter segments but also risks alienating others who advocate for more humane immigration policies. The proposed changes aim to dismantle the existing indefinite leave to remain status, which could severely affect many long-term residents and families.

By proposing stringent measures and a confrontational stance against perceived threats to national integrity, Reform UK positions itself in a contentious debate on immigration, which is becoming increasingly polarized. The political landscape in the UK could see significant changes if these proposals gain traction, as they challenge established norms of treatment towards asylum seekers and migrants—issues that have played pivotal roles in national discussions about identity, community, and human rights.