The United Kingdom government has issued a stern warning to three African nations, threatening to stop granting visas to their citizens unless they cooperate in taking back irregular migrants. The dramatic move comes as part of what the government calls the most significant reforms to the UK asylum system in modern times.
Visa Sanctions and Tight Deadlines
On Monday, the UK Home Office declared it would halt visa issuance for nationals from Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This drastic measure is a direct response to what Britain describes as unacceptably low cooperation from these countries in accepting the return of their citizens who are either deemed criminals or have entered the UK illegally.
Home Office minister Alex Norris delivered an ultimatum, stating the three countries have just one month to rectify the situation and improve their returns processes. The government also indicated it is prepared to consider similar visa penalties against other nations that fail to cooperate on migration matters.
Sweeping Asylum System Reforms
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce comprehensive changes to Britain's approach to illegal migration. The reforms, modeled on Denmark's strict asylum system, represent some of the most significant changes in decades.
The planned measures include ending automatic benefits for asylum seekers and substantially reducing protections for refugees. One particularly contentious proposal involves cutting the length of refugee status from five years to just 30 months. Under the new system, refugees would have their protection status regularly reviewed and would be required to return home once their countries are considered safe.
Furthermore, the path to permanent residency would become much longer, with refugees needing to wait 20 years instead of the current five before they can apply for settled status.
Political Context and Criticism
The hardline stance comes amid growing political pressure on immigration in Britain. The issue has become deeply divisive, fueling support for the hard-right Reform UK party, which has recently surpassed the governing Labour Party in some popularity polls.
Mahmood's measures appear aimed at addressing the flow of asylum seekers crossing the Channel from France in small boats, while also attempting to win back public support from Reform UK. The government's approach echoes travel ban policies previously implemented by former US President Donald Trump.
However, the proposed changes have faced sharp criticism from charities and even within the Labour Party. Labour MP Tony Vaughan voiced concerns on the BBC's Today programme, arguing that the reforms create a situation of perpetual limbo and alienation that helps neither refugees nor society.
According to latest government figures, while asylum claims have increased, the number of initial positive decisions granted by UK authorities actually fell from 2023 to 2024. This contrasts with the thousands of visas granted under humanitarian schemes for Ukrainians, Afghans, and Hong Kong residents in recent years.
