Two nations have agreed to enhance their efforts in repatriating their citizens who were deported from the UK following a threat of a visa ban by the Home Secretary.
Last month, Shabana Mahmood warned that visas for foreign nationals from specific countries could be withheld if their governments did not cooperate on return agreements. The countries mentioned were Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Home Office stated that Angola and Namibia were at risk of penalties due to their inadequate and obstructive returns procedures. Consequently, both countries have agreed to accept the return of migrants to avoid facing penalties.
As a precautionary measure, the UK has discontinued fast-track visa processing and special visa privileges for diplomats and VIPs from the DRC after the country failed to make necessary adjustments.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the importance of countries abiding by regulations, urging them to take back their citizens if they have no legal right to stay in the UK. She commended Angola and Namibia for their cooperation and called on the DRC to follow suit to avoid losing entry privileges into the UK.
These actions are part of a series of measures being implemented to strengthen border security and increase the removal of individuals who do not have the right to remain in the UK.
The three countries mentioned accounted for only a small fraction of the over 800,000 visas granted in the year up to June for various purposes like employment, study, family, and humanitarian reasons.
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, highlighted the government’s commitment to removing individuals residing illegally in the UK and instructed diplomatic missions worldwide to prioritize repatriations, emphasizing the effectiveness of cooperation between countries in achieving swift results.
Individuals who enter the UK illegally, overstay their visas, or engage in criminal activities should expect to be repatriated, with the government continuing to seek the collaboration of foreign governments in this process.