Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch will open the 2025 Tory Conference in Manchester with a major immigration policy pledge the creation of a “Removals Force” modelled on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to The Guardian, the £1.6 billion initiative aims to deport up to 150,000 illegal migrants every year, marking one of the toughest border enforcement policies in modern UK politics. The new force will be equipped with enhanced powers, including facial recognition surveillance and status checks by police during arrests or routine stops.
Lens News gathered that the proposal forms part of Badenoch’s wider “Strong Borders Plan,” designed to curb record illegal migration after more than 34,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats this year.
The Financial Times reported that the policy also includes an overhaul of asylum laws limiting refugee eligibility to individuals directly persecuted by foreign governments. This would exclude those fleeing religious, cultural, or sexual intolerance. Furthermore, the plan seeks to abolish immigration tribunals and restrict legal aid for asylum appeals.
Lens News reported that Badenoch’s proposed taskforce draws inspiration from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s ICE agency, known for its aggressive deportation operations. Critics have already warned that such powers could breach human rights obligations, while supporters argue it will restore “law and order at the borders.”
As the Conservative leader begins her first full conference since taking over party leadership, immigration enforcement is expected to dominate the agenda setting the tone for what analysts predict will be an election-defining policy.
