More than 600 Brazilian nationals, including 109 children, have been deported from the UK on the three largest Home Office charter flights in history since the Labour government took office. This unprecedented wave of removals, revealed by The Observer through Freedom of Information data, highlights a significant escalation in the UK’s deportation efforts under the current administration.
The three flights, which took place on August 9, August 23, and September 27, 2024, collectively removed 629 individuals, including entire family units with children. These deportations mark the first time the Home Office has removed such large numbers of a single nationality on charter flights. Many of the children deported were settled in UK schools and are believed to have spent most, if not all, of their lives in the country.
Incentives and Voluntary Returns
The deportations were officially classified as “voluntary returns,” with the Home Office offering financial incentives of up to £3,000 per individual, including children, to encourage people to leave. These incentives were distributed via pre-loaded cards that could be activated upon arrival in Brazil. The majority of those deported are thought to have overstayed their visas.
Government statistics published on Thursday show that between July and September 2024, there were 8,308 enforced and voluntary returns, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Voluntary returns accounted for 6,247 of these cases, up 12% from the previous year. While the government has highlighted its increased deportation figures, it has not publicly disclosed that the destination for these historic flights was Brazil.
Concerns Raised by Latin American Rights Groups
Latin American rights organizations have expressed alarm over the scale and secrecy of these deportations, particularly involving children. The Coalition of Latin Americans in the UK criticized the lack of transparency and the barriers Brazilians face in accessing reliable legal advice in their native language.
“The sharp increase in voluntary returns is concerning. Many Brazilians lack access to high-quality information and accredited legal advice. Post-Brexit immigration changes have left hundreds at risk of having their rights denied due to misinformation and harsh eligibility requirements,” said the coalition.
The group also highlighted the vulnerability of Brazilian women, particularly those experiencing domestic violence, who are at greater risk under the Home Office’s deportation initiative. In one case, a Brazilian woman fleeing domestic violence with her two children, one of whom had special educational needs, was forced to return to Brazil after being denied the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession.
Safety and Settlement Concerns
It remains unclear how many of those deported did not wish to return to Brazil but felt compelled due to safety concerns or lack of alternatives. Advocacy groups have called on the UK government to provide fair, affordable, and secure pathways toward citizenship and settlement for immigrants who have established roots in the UK.
Home Office Statement
A Home Office spokesperson defended the initiative, stating: “We are delivering on our plan to ramp up removals of those with no right to be in the UK. Removals of foreign offenders and failed asylum seekers are at their highest level in five years. This effort will reduce our reliance on hotels and save an estimated £4 billion in accommodation costs over the next two years.”
