Following its failure to increase efforts to repatriate deported residents, the UK has restricted visas for individuals arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
After failing to agree on new measures to facilitate the return of illegal migrants from the United Kingdom, the Home Office has stopped preferential visa treatment for the nation’s ambassadors and VIPs and withdrew fast-track visa processing.
In the past, Shabana Mahmood threatened to impose sanctions on the DRC, Namibia, and Angola for their “unacceptably poor and obstructive returns processes.”
The Home Office claimed that the nations, which account for less than 0.1% of the more than 800,000 visas issued this year through June, had impeded attempts to deport thousands of criminals and illegal immigrants.
Additionally, it charged them with refusing to complete paperwork and making people sign their own documents, so enabling them to prevent their own deportations.
Since then, Angola and Namibia have reached an agreement on new procedures that would allow the UK to repatriate foreign national offenders and unlawful migrants in the upcoming months.
While the DRC has been somewhat involved, Ms. Mahmood cautioned that if it doesn’t cooperate, she is prepared to take more action.
‘Won’t hesitate to go farther and block visas to other nations who refuse to take their citizens back,’ according to a government source.
“We expect countries to play by the rules,” Ms. Mahmood stated. They must repatriate their citizens if they have no right to be here.I appreciate Namibia’s and Angola’s cooperation. The time has come for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to act morally.Return your citizens or forfeit your right to enter our nation.
“This is only the beginning of the steps I’m taking to fortify our border and increase the number of people who shouldn’t be here.”
Last month, Ms. Mahmood announced comprehensive reforms that would discourage migrants from applying for asylum in the UK and facilitate the removal of those who have no legal right to be there.
The three nations that face a ban on visas are not among the most frequently entered countries for both legal and illegal migrants in the United Kingdom.
They made up a very small percentage of the over 800,000 visas issued for work, education, family, or humanitarian purposes in the year ending in June—299 to citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 273 to citizens of Angola, and 140 to citizens of Namibia.
Additionally, just 11 illegal migrants from the DRC, three from Angola, and none from Namibia were reported to have entered the UK using so-called “irregular” methods during that period.
In an attempt to expedite returns, British diplomats have been instructed by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to adopt a more commercial approach to unlawful migration.
“I have directed our diplomatic network worldwide to prioritize returns, and today’s announcement demonstrates that when nations cooperate with us, we can attain quicker outcomes,” she stated.Those who enter the UK unlawfully, overstay their visas, or commit crimes there should anticipate being sent back, and we will keep pressing their countries to assist in this process.
Nearly 50,000 people have been deported from the UK and over 7,000 foreign national offenders have been brought back since Labour took office in July 2024.
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