Illegal Migrants Resist Deportation, Handcuffed and Forced onto Plane (See Pictures)

The Home Office has caused controversy by releasing photos of migrants being restrained and put on deportation flights for the first time. The images show migrants, including one with a waist restraint, being led onto planes by border officials.

Since the last election, over 19,000 people have been deported, with enforced removals increasing by 24% and deportations of foreign criminals rising by 21%. Raids on illegal workplaces have also gone up by 38% compared to the previous year.

Critics argue the government is using “performative tactics” that promote negative and harmful views on immigration. However, a Home Office minister defended the move, saying it’s important to show what they are doing.

8Last month, nearly 750 people, including around 360 foreign criminals, were deported—the highest number since 2018. This included the four largest deportation flights in UK history, carrying over 850 people in total.

The government claims the increase in deportations is due to reallocating 1,000 staff from the failed Rwanda plan and implementing the Illegal Migration Act, which had been consuming significant resources.

Some individuals who resist deportation are restrained with waist or leg restraints or handcuffs, and a small number have to be carried onto flights. Safety measures, like covering the plane stairs, are used to prevent desperate attempts to escape.

The photos released by the Home Office show varying levels of risk, from people walking freely to those being heavily restrained. On a recent flight, 47 men, including 24 foreign criminals, were deported. Disruptive individuals may require up to four escorts, meaning nearly 200 escorts could be needed for a single flight. Medics, translators, and drivers are also involved in the process.

Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council criticized the government, saying such tactics risk increasing mistrust and playing into harmful narratives about immigration. He called for a compassionate and orderly system that treats people with dignity, rather than using dramatic imagery that undermines trust. He also emphasized the need to clear the asylum backlog, reform accommodation, and help refugees integrate into society.

The Home Office uses both charter and commercial flights for deportations. Recently, Labour faced criticism for using Reform UK’s branding in ads about deporting migrants, without including Labour’s traditional red color or rose logo. Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle defended the government’s approach, saying it’s important to show the harsh realities of illegal immigration, including exploitation by criminal gangs.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed the need to enforce immigration rules to rebuild public trust, praising the efforts of immigration enforcement staff. Meanwhile, Green Party co-leader Carla Denya accused Labour of adopting cruel tactics and legitimizing extreme views on migration. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also criticized the government, saying scapegoating refugees distracts from domestic failures and called for safe migration routes instead of dangerous crossings.