Shabana Mahmood threatens UK visa ban for Eritrea in migrant row

Eritrea will face a full ban on visas and restrictions on its diplomats in Britain unless its government accepts deportations of convicted criminals and small boat migrants. Shabana Mahmood , the home secretary, said the east African country had refused to co-operate with the return of its citizens, adding that other countries could face similar visa restrictions if they failed to accept migrant returns. Most commented 1 Pope Leo walking and eating after lung cancer operation Europe 316 comments She said: “Eritrea has had every chance to accept the return of criminals and those with no right to be in the UK. Unlike other countries, it has refused. My message to the Eritrean government is simple: take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK. Top stories 1 Shopkeeper in Kelly Clarkson row ‘fears for safety’ as CCTV released US news 2 US inflation hotter than expected as Iran war stokes fuel costs Economics “I will not hesitate to impose further measures on other countries refusing to co-operate.” Migrants attempt to board a small boat off the coast of Berck, northern France, to cross the Channel Gareth Fuller/PA Wire Eritrea abruptly withdrew its co-operation with returns this year. In March, the country stopped issuing emergency travel documents, which those without a valid passport can return to their home country. Without the documents, deporting criminals and failed asylum seekers is difficult or even impossible. Advertisement In response, Eritrean diplomats and government officials have now been stripped of their fast-track VIP access to British visas. Mahmood said the country had to start processing returns again or this would be extended to a total ban. Top stories 1 Gareth Southgate: I stopped enjoying football — I won’t return Football 2 Reform councillors call Muslims ‘parasites’ and black children ‘animals’ Politics 3 Data centre expansion could push up energy bills, energy chiefs warn Environment 4 Pope Leo has ‘second good night’ after lung cancer surgery Europe 5 Should you buy shares in Vanguard LifeStrategy? Companies & Markets Eritrean diplomats have also been told they cannot travel more than 60km (37 miles) from London without permission from the Foreign Office. This mirrors restrictions Eritrea places on British diplomats, who need permission to travel from the capital, Asmara. National Crime Agency/reuters Eritreans made up the largest share of small boat arrivals in the UK in the year ending June 2026. They have one of the highest asylum grant rates of any nationality, owing to the oppressive Eritrean government. Eritrea has been ruled since 1993 by Isaias Afwerki, a totalitarian leader who enforces indefinite military conscription extending to those as young as 15 or 16. Torture, extrajudicial killing and disappearances are common and Eritrean teenagers often leave to seek asylum before they can be conscripted. However, some asylum claims are still rejected and Britain has also sought to return criminals to Eritrea, such as Radiet Meles, 35, who entered the UK by lorry and was convicted of raping a woman after he could not be deported for a previous sexual offence. Advertisement There are currently 230 Eritrean offenders whom the Home Office would like to deport. The number of failed asylum seekers is harder to establish, especially as some from neighbouring Ethiopia attempt to pose as Eritrean because of the higher asylum grant rate. Radiet Meles was convicted in March this year of rape and assault and will be sentenced in November Athena There were similar threats of visa sanctions against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2025. Reform promises tariffs on countries that won’t take back migrants Angola and Namibia subsequently agreed to co-operate with demands on migrant returns after the warnings, while the Democratic Republic of Congo faced visa restrictions before reaching an agreement with the UK in February. In March, ministers also placed an emergency brake on visas for nationals from four countries after the home secretary accused them of exploiting Britain’s generosity to claim asylum. Study visas for nationals from Afghanistan , Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan were also halted, as were work visas for Afghans.