The UK could cut the number of visas granted to countries that
delay or refuse returns of individuals with no right to remain in
the UK.
In her first major engagement in post, Home Secretary reached an agreement with
her counterparts from the United States, Canada, Australia, and
New Zealand – collectively known as the Five Eyes – to help
boost the return of individuals who have no legal basis to
remain in any of the partner countries.
The agreement establishes clear obligations for countries to
accept the return of individuals who have no legal right to
remain, aiming to build international consensus and accelerate
the removal process.
It recognises the need for accountability and commits to
tackling prolonged delays, refusals to issue travel documents,
and limited engagement through firm action.
In cases where non-cooperative countries are unwilling to accept
the enforced repatriation of their own nationals, this could lead
to new measures, including appropriate adjustments to visa
arrangements to reflect changes in immigration risk.
The joint statement takes immediate effect and reinforces the UK
government's commitment to strengthening the returns process.
Home Secretary said:
Abuse of our immigration system is a serious threat to public
safety – and it is one we are confronting alongside our closest
allies.
This announcement sends a clear message to anyone seeking to
undermine our border security. If you have no legal right to
remain in the UK, we will deport you. If countries refuse to take
their citizens back, we will take action.
The reset of relationships with our international partners under
this government, as part of the Plan for Change, is bearing
fruit, with returns and disruption of criminal networks up since
July last year. Now, we must go further.
Marking a renewed commitment to pool resources and strengthen
joint operational frameworks, the Five Eyes also agreed to
address the continued use of online platforms by migrants during
their journeys, by exploring opportunities for coordinated
operational measures against online threats that facilitate
organised immigration crime.
Analysis shows that approximately 80% of migrants arriving via
small boat report using social media during their journey to the
UK, which could include responding to adverts for illegal
journeys and communicating with smuggling gangs.
Spearheaded by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), this action
aims to detect, disrupt, and deter individuals who facilitate
people smuggling through advertising or act as agents for
organised smuggling networks.
Since December 2021, the NCA has identified and removed over
23,000 posts, pages or accounts promoting organised immigration
crime across online platforms, with more than 8,000 taken down in
the past year alone – a 40% increase compared to the previous
year.
Today's agreements build on measures successfully delivered by
the government in its first year, including the removal of over
35,000 individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK,
nearly trebling the ‘Deport Now, Appeal Later' scheme to cover 23
countries, strengthening existing returns arrangements, and
securing new returns processes – including landmark agreements
with France and Iraq.
