Huge Petition to Deport All Foreign Criminals from UK Hits Major Milestone as Government Finally Responds

A petition calling for all foreign criminals to be deported from the UK has reached an important milestone after receiving more than 15,000 signatures.

The petition was started in April by Alexander Bhagat, who wants the government to take stronger action against foreign nationals who commit crimes in Britain.

The petition also calls for people on terrorism watchlists to be sent back to their countries of origin.

Those supporting the petition believe British taxpayers should not have to pay for foreign criminals to remain in the country. They also argue that removing such individuals would help protect communities and improve public safety.

The petition has now passed 10,000 signatures, which means the UK government is required to respond.

In its official response, the Home Office said the government is determined to deport foreign nationals who commit crimes in the UK.

Officials explained that people who come to Britain and break the law should understand that they could face deportation.

The government also made it clear that deportation is an important part of its efforts to protect the public and deal with foreign offenders.

Under the UK Borders Act 2007, foreign nationals who are convicted of a crime and receive a prison sentence of at least 12 months are normally required to face deportation proceedings. This can also apply to suspended prison sentences.

However, there are exceptions to these rules.

For example, deportation may not be possible if sending someone back to their home country would break their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights or the UK’s responsibilities under international refugee laws.

This means that even when a foreign national has been convicted of a serious offence, the government must still consider whether deportation would be lawful.

The Home Office also explained that foreign criminals who receive prison sentences of less than 12 months could still be considered for deportation under other immigration laws.

This may happen when someone has committed a crime that caused serious harm, repeatedly breaks the law or is considered a threat to national security.

Once a deportation order has been issued, the individual is normally banned from legally returning to the UK while that order remains in place.

The government said it also uses different security systems to identify people who could pose a danger to the country.

These include national and international watchlists that help authorities identify suspected terrorists, criminals, previously deported individuals and people travelling with stolen or cancelled documents.

The Home Office works with police, border officials and other government organisations to identify such individuals and take appropriate action.

The petition will remain open until October 27, giving more members of the public an opportunity to sign it.

The growing number of signatures comes at a time when immigration, deportation and prison overcrowding remain major political issues across Britain.

Reform UK recently announced that it would support deporting foreign nationals held in British prisons to create more space.

The party made the proposal as concerns continued over prison overcrowding and the early release of some prisoners.

Figures from March 2026 showed that around 10,400 foreign nationals were being held in custody in the UK. These included 3,588 people on remand, 6,458 sentenced prisoners and 441 people recorded in the non-criminal category.

Supporters of tougher deportation rules believe removing foreign offenders could reduce pressure on prisons and save public money.

However, deportation decisions must still follow British law and the country’s international legal obligations.

Although the government has responded to the petition, this does not mean that everyone mentioned in it will automatically be deported.

Each case must still be considered under the relevant laws, including any legal protections that apply.

For now, the petition continues to attract attention as more people add their signatures and call for stronger action against foreign nationals who commit crimes in Britain.

The issue is likely to remain part of the wider debate over immigration, public safety and how the government should deal with foreign offenders living in the UK.