The Home Office has announced expansions at Haslar and Campsfield Immigration Removal Centres, raising combined capacity from 290 to 1,000 beds, with more than 45,000 removals projected over the coming decade.
The Home Office announced the expansions on 29 June 2026. The projects at Haslar and Campsfield Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) will, it says, contribute to a 40% increase in the UK's detention capacity. Cumulative capacity at the two centres will more than triple, from 290 to 1,000 beds.
The government states that more than 45,000 foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed over the coming decade as a result of the expanded capacity. The announcement does not give an opening date for the additional beds.
Removals to date. The Home Office says nearly 70,000 people with no right to be in the UK have been removed since this government took office. It describes this as an increase of 41% on the previous 21-month period. Of these, 10,000 were foreign national offenders, an increase of 36%.
Enforcement budget and staffing. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, will double the Immigration Enforcement budget by 2028 to 2029. Workforce numbers will rise by 60% from 2024 in 2026 to 2027. The Home Office says this will lead to "tens of thousands more raids, arrests, and deportations".
Inspectorate figure. The announcement refers to a report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) published the previous week. The Home Office says the report showed the government inherited a migration system with over 412,000 illegal migrants in the UK.
Legislation. As confirmed in the King's Speech, the government will bring forward an Immigration and Asylum Bill. The Home Office says it will reform human rights laws, including modern slavery legislation and Article 8 of the ECHR, in relation to removals. No text or timetable for the Bill is given in the announcement.
What this means for applicants
The announcement sets out plans for detention capacity, Immigration Enforcement funding and staffing, and says the government will bring forward an Immigration and Asylum Bill. It sets no date by which anyone must act, and it gives no timetable for the Bill.
Sources
- Illegal immigrants and foreign criminals to be removed, GOV.UK, 29 June 2026