Shabana Mahmood has threatened visa restrictions on Eritreans if Eritrea refuses more returns of small boat migrants and foreign national offenders. The move follows earlier UK pressure on other countries over co-operation on removals.
01Summary
- 01From Thursday, Eritrean diplomats will face limits on travel outside London and fast-track visas for VIPs will be stopped.
- 02Mahmood said Eritrea had refused to accept the return of people with no right to be in the UK and that she would impose further measures on countries that do not co-operate.
- 03Eritreans were the most common nationality among small boats migrants in the 12 months to June, making up 18% of arrivals, according to House of Commons Library figures.
- 04The UK has previously threatened or imposed visa restrictions on Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and restrictions on the DRC were later lifted after co-operation improved.
- 05Home Office data says more than 20,400 people have arrived in the UK by small boats so far this year, down 40% on the same period last year, while more than 40,600 returns and deportations were made from July 2025 to June this year.
02Why it matters
The threat adds pressure to Eritrea as the UK tries to increase returns of people who have no right to stay. It also shows the government is using visa policy more aggressively as part of its wider asylum crackdown.
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