In a move that has ignited fierce political debate and sent ripples through the education and property sectors, Reform UK’s new home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, is set to unveil a sweeping set of immigration proposals in Dover on February 24, 2026. The plans, which include a blanket visa ban on Pakistan and five other countries, mass deportations, and the creation of a domestic version of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have drawn both sharp criticism and cautious attention from across the British political spectrum.
According to reporting by The Guardian and The Telegraph, Yusuf’s proposals are part of a broader hardline platform aimed at tackling what he has called a "national security emergency." At the heart of the plan is the establishment of a new UK Deportation Command, modeled after the controversial US ICE agency. This new body would have the capacity to detain 24,000 migrants at any given time and process removals of up to 288,000 people annually. The party estimates that former military installations could be repurposed as temporary detention centers within 18 months, requiring an investment of £2.5 billion. Five daily deportation charter flights, supported by a standby RAF Voyager aircraft, are also part of the proposal.
The planned reforms go far beyond border enforcement. Yusuf will advocate for scrapping Indefinite Leave to Remain, replacing it with renewable five-year work visas and a dedicated spouse visa. Other measures include the immediate termination of Universal Credit welfare payments to foreign nationals, a vast expansion of stop and search powers (including “saturation policing” in high-crime areas), and a rule mandating automatic home searches for anyone referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme by three separate corroborating authorities.
Perhaps most controversially, the proposals threaten “visa freezes” on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Syria if those countries refuse to take back migrants with no legal right to stay in Britain. In 2025 alone, Pakistan accounted for about 160,000 UK visas, many of which were granted to students. According to Meyka AI PTY LTD, a research and informational platform, these changes could have immediate and significant effects on the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector, particularly for firms like Unite Group (UTG.L) that rely heavily on international student demand to fill rooms and support rent growth.
“If Zia Yusuf drives a Pakistan visa ban or tighter UK student visas, first-order risk is fewer international arrivals. That could weaken intake for affected courses and cities,” analysts at Meyka AI PTY LTD noted. “Operators serving these cohorts would likely see slower bookings, less pricing power, and a shift toward incentives. Purpose-built student accommodation relies on strong international demand to fill rooms early and support summer rent increases.”
Investors are being advised to closely monitor next academic year bookings, occupancy targets, average weekly rent growth, cancellation rates, and the city-level mix where international student cohorts are largest. University application and acceptance data could foreshadow room demand three to six months ahead, providing early warning signals for the sector. “If demand weakens, occupancy and rent growth could soften. The effect depends on policy scope, timing, and how much domestic demand offsets any overseas shortfall,” Meyka AI PTY LTD added.
The proposals have not been without their detractors. Opposition parties and human rights organizations have condemned the plans as divisive and fundamentally un-British. Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley responded, “Reform wants to divide our country, not deliver for the British people. Their plan to deport people who have followed the rules, worked hard and built their lives here – our friends, neighbours and colleagues – is a direct attack on settled families and fundamentally un-British.”
Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK was equally forthright, stating, “We are most threatened by those who seek to strip away our basic rights and protections - not the people they scapegoat to justify mass deportations and expanded police surveillance. Our society is built on diversity, not monoculture. Targeting vulnerable communities in the name of security puts everyone at risk.”
Yusuf, however, has remained steadfast in his messaging. In remarks previewed by The Sun and Express, he said, “As home secretary I will use every instrument of state to deport all illegal migrants in Britain, including visa bans on countries that refuse to take back their illegals. Further countries will be announced soon. Reform will do what it takes to finally secure our borders, uphold the rule of law and put the British people first.”
Beyond immigration, the proposals touch on broader cultural and security issues. Yusuf is expected to announce policies to “protect Britain’s Christian heritage” by granting immediate listed status to all churches, legally preventing their conversion into mosques or other places of worship. He will also promise to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood and overhaul the Prevent counter-terrorism scheme, focusing on what Reform UK describes as “real threats.” The expansion of stop and search powers and construction of new prisons at an unprecedented scale are also on the agenda.
Reform UK’s policy rollout comes at a time when immigration remains a deeply contentious issue in British politics. Both Labour and the Conservatives have faced criticism from Reform for what Yusuf describes as years of inaction. “The social contract has not merely been broken; it’s been shattered. Under a Reform government, His Majesty’s Parliament will be sovereign once again. We will secure our borders, leave the ECHR and deport those here illegally. My message to the British people is simple: I will secure our borders and make you feel safe,” Yusuf is expected to declare in Dover.
For investors, the uncertainty surrounding the implementation and scope of these proposals means caution is the order of the day. As Meyka AI PTY LTD advises, “Track policy traction, sector guidance, and university intake signals. Avoid overreacting to headlines, but be ready to adjust exposure if bookings slow or guidance turns cautious. If proposals stall or narrow, sentiment could recover quickly, offering opportunities to add quality at better prices.”
As the political debate intensifies, the fate of thousands of international students, the future of British higher education, and the outlook for property investors all hang in the balance. For now, the only certainty is that the conversation about migration, security, and national identity is far from over.