Up to 9 Million in the UK at Risk of Losing Citizenship, Report Warns

As many as 9 million people in the United Kingdom could be at risk of losing their British citizenship, according to a new report by two human rights and policy research organisations, the Runnymede Trust and Reprieve. This represents around 13 percent of the UK’s total population of 70 million.

Under British law, the Home Office has the power to revoke a person’s citizenship if the government believes that individual is eligible for citizenship in another country. This decision can be taken even if the person has never lived in, or visited, that other country. The controversial law has long drawn criticism, with allegations of misuse and discrimination against the UK government.

The report finds that ethnic minorities face a disproportionately higher risk. Non-white citizens are 12 times more likely to be at risk of losing citizenship compared to white citizens. The findings are based on census data, annual population surveys, and Home Office statistics.

According to the report, around 1.6 million Black British citizens and 3.3 million Asian British citizens could potentially have their citizenship revoked. By contrast, although 2.4 million white citizens are also at risk, they represent only about 5 percent of the white population.

Muslims make up a significant proportion of those at risk, particularly people of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African descent. Data shows that nearly one million British citizens of Indian origin face the highest risk, followed by those of Pakistani origin, with Romanian-origin citizens ranking third. British citizens of Bangladeshi origin rank seventh, with more than 200,000 potentially at risk of losing their citizenship.

Runnymede Trust and Reprieve have described the citizenship deprivation law as deeply concerning, warning that it has become a systemic threat to Muslim and non-white communities in the UK.