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Removal, on the other hand, happens all the time. Almost every week a charter flight leaves for Pakistan (among other places) with 40 - 50 passengers who have been served removal papers. The profile of an inland removal case usually looks like this: the person was caught violating the terms of their visa (or caught as an illegal entrant). The person was detained until the authorities decided if they would exercise discretion in the person's favour or not. If the decision was adverse, the person was escorted to an exit port (e.g., Gatwick) and put on a flight home.

The profile for a removal from port looks like this: the person arrived at a port of entry and failed their landing interview. As a result they got 'turned around', 'bounced', 'refused', 'denied entry', or to be precise: 'removed'. When a person is removed from port, the authorities do not need to send the person to their home country, they can pick any country where the person is admissible. Part of the removal process involves taking the person's biometrics. This is voluntary, but if the person refuses, they get a 10 year ban under Paragraph 320 (8A).

Removal, on the other hand, happens all the time. Almost every week a charter flight leaves for Pakistan (among other places) with 40 - 50 passengers who have been served removal papers. There are two different kinds of removals: an inland removal and a removal from port.

The profile of an inland removal case usually looks like this: the person was caught violating the terms of their visa (or caught as an illegal entrant). The person was detained until the authorities decided if they would exercise discretion in the person's favour or not. If the decision was adverse, the person was escorted to an exit port (e.g., Gatwick) and put on a flight home.

The profile for a removal from port looks like this: the person arrived at a port of entry and failed their landing interview. As a result they got 'turned around', 'bounced', 'refused', 'denied entry', or to be precise: 'removed'. When a person is removed from port, the authorities do not need to send the person to their home country, they can pick any country where the person is admissible. Part of the removal process involves taking the person's biometrics. This is voluntary, but if the person refuses, they get a 10 year ban under Paragraph 320 (8A).

Both events have a long-term pejorative effect on the person. Both must be declared when the person applies for entry clearance and both make the person an illegal entrant if they enter the UK through the Common Travel Area.

From a practical viewpoint the only difference is getting the deportation order lifted.

Summary: As I mentioned, people will use the terms interchangeably and it's generally harmless. But problems can arise when people research 'deportation' for something that is actually a 'removal'. TSE (in keeping with other SO sites) likes precision and using the correct terminology elevates the site's credibility. See also the wiki entry for 'removal'.

Both events have a long-term pejorative effect on the person. Both must be declared when the person applies for entry clearance and both make the person an illegal entrant if they enter the UK through the Common Travel Area.

From a practical viewpoint the only difference between the two is getting the deportation order lifted.

Summary: As I mentioned, people will use the terms interchangeably and it's generally harmless. But problems can arise when people research 'deportation' for something that is actually a 'removal'.

Note: There is no way to expunge a removal or deportation from someone's record. Even if a non-visa-national clears immigration controls, the event is still on the person's transcript.