Reform UK has announced plans to deport all foreign criminals from British jails to El Salvador if the party's leader, Nigel Farage, becomes Prime Minister. The party's chairman, Lee Anderson, is expected to visit the Central American nation in the coming months to discuss potential arrangements with President Nayib Bukele's government.
Discussions between Farage and Salvadoran officials have reportedly explored the possibility of securing places in El Salvador's prisons, which are known for their stringent conditions. Reform's Home Affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, stated that the party would seek to change laws to ensure serious offenders serve their full sentences. He added that over 10,000 foreign nationals are currently incarcerated in UK prisons and that Reform would deport all of them.
"If their home countries won't take them back we will send them to serve their sentences in countries like El Salvador and Kosovo," Yusuf said. "We will use the space created to ensure that serious criminals stay where they belong. Behind bars."
The proposal echoes a similar policy discussed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly reached an agreement with El Salvador to deport migrants from the United States. Farage is also expected to pledge the creation of 12,000 new prison spaces through the construction of temporary "Nightingale" prisons, a concept previously used for temporary hospital and court facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reform UK also plans to end early release for dangerous offenders and reintroduce short sentences for shoplifters. This announcement comes as the UK government faces scrutiny over its early release scheme, designed to alleviate prison overcrowding, which is set to begin in October. Approximately 5,000 individuals are anticipated to be released early under these changes.
El Salvador's most prominent facility is the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), built as part of President Bukele's campaign against drug cartels. The prison, designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates, currently houses an estimated 15,000, many of whom are alleged gang members or convicted criminals. The facility's regime is characterized by inmates spending 23.5 hours a day in concrete cells with minimal interaction, no family visits, recreational spaces, or rehabilitation programs.
A Labour Party spokesperson criticized Reform's proposal, stating that the party has no viable solutions for the current prison crisis and could lead to system collapse, potentially resulting in the release of dangerous offenders. They asserted that Labour prioritizes public safety and is working to deport foreign criminals and increase prison capacity.