By Desmond Davies
London, Sept. 8, GNA – The United Kingdom (UK) government has announced new measures aimed at speeding up the deportation of individuals with no legal right to remain in the country.
Under the plan, countries that delay or refuse to accept the return of their nationals could face reductions or restrictions on the number of visas granted by the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled the initiative on Monday during her first major engagement in office, reaching an agreement with counterparts from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance – to boost the repatriation of individuals with no legal status.
“The reset of relationships with our international partners…is bearing fruit, with returns and disruption of criminal networks up since July last year,” Ms Mahmood said.
“Now we must go further.
The agreement sets out clear obligations for countries to accept the return of their nationals and seeks to tackle prolonged delays, refusals to issue travel documents and limited cooperation.
In cases of non-compliance, the UK may introduce measures including adjustments to visa arrangements to reflect changes in immigration risk.
“Abuse of our immigration system is a serious threat to public safety – and it is one we are confronting alongside our closest allies,” Ms Mahmood said.
“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 UK also plans to strengthen efforts against organised immigration crime, particularly the use of online platforms by migrants during their journeys.
Analysis shows around 80 per cent of small-boat migrants reported using social media to communicate with smugglers or respond to adverts for illegal journeys.
Led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK has already removed over 23,000 posts, pages, or accounts promoting organised immigration crime since December 2021, with more than 8,000 taken down in the past year alone – a 40 per cent increase on the previous year.
The measures build on the government’s previous efforts, which include the removal of more than 35,000 individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK, expansion of the “Deport Now, Appeal Later” scheme to cover 23 countries, and landmark return agreements with France and Iraq.
The Home Office said the new policy “reinforces the UK’s commitment to strengthening the returns process and deepening operational cooperation with international partners”.
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage