September 21, 2025
Tommy Robinson, long known for his hardline stance on immigration and frequent calls for the deportation of others, has now found himself on the receiving end of the very policies he once championed. Over the weekend, Robinson was detained and deported from Bogotá, Colombia, after being deemed a threat to national security. He then attempted to enter Panama, only to be detained again and served with another deportation order.
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For someone who has built a platform on exclusion, it’s a striking reversal — one that places him, however briefly, in the shoes of those he’s targeted. One wonders how it feels to be labelled “undesirable,” to sit in a detention room awaiting forced removal, and to realise that borders don’t bend for bravado. Perhaps this moment will spark reflection. Or perhaps it will simply be another chapter in a long saga of deflection and denial.
Will this experience soften Tommy Robinson’s stance on immigration and deportation — or simply reinforce his narrative of persecution? That remains to be seen. For some, being detained and deported might offer a rare moment of empathy, a glimpse into the fear and powerlessness many migrants face daily.
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But for others, especially those steeped in grievance politics, such events can become fuel: a way to claim victimhood, double down on rhetoric, and rally supporters. Whether Robinson emerges humbled or hardened, one thing is clear — the border doesn’t discriminate based on ideology. And perhaps that’s the most uncomfortable truth of all.
