The UK government on Monday, November 17, warned that it will impose visa bans on Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo if the three African nations do not begin accepting the return of their nationals who entered Britain illegally.
The Home Office said visas would no longer be granted to citizens of the affected countries unless they cooperated by taking back “their criminals and illegal immigrants.” The warning came as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepared to unveil what the government has described as the most sweeping overhaul of the UK’s asylum system in modern times.
Immigration has become an increasingly polarising issue in Britain, with surging support for Reform UK placing pressure on the governing Labour Party. Mahmood’s upcoming reforms are aimed at curbing the rising number of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats.
According to the Home Office, the three African countries face penalties because of “unacceptably low cooperation and obstructive returns processes.” Minister Alex Norris told Sky News that the governments involved have “one month to get this in order,” adding that similar action could be taken against other nations.
The proposed measures will include an “emergency brake” restricting visas from countries with high asylum application rates, even for people entering the UK legally. The government is also planning a major tightening of asylum rules, drawing on Denmark’s restrictive model.
Under the expected reforms, automatic benefits for asylum seekers would end, refugee protections would be significantly reduced, and the standard duration of refugee status would be cut from five years to 30 months. Refugees would face regular reviews of their status and could be required to return home once their countries are deemed safe. The waiting period for permanent residency would rise from five years to 20.
Critics have condemned the proposals, warning that the changes would create prolonged insecurity for refugees. Labour MP Tony Vaughan said the approach risks fostering “perpetual limbo and alienation,” arguing that it benefits neither refugees nor British society.
Government figures show that while asylum applications increased this year, the number of initial approvals actually fell. The UK has granted thousands of visas under humanitarian schemes for Afghans, Ukrainians and Hong Kong residents in recent years.
wILL THE UK ALSO TAKE BACK ITS CRIMINALS FROM EVERY COUNTRY PLEASE.
ITS TIT FOR TAT.
WHO HAS MORE CRIMINALS BETWEEN THE THREE AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND THE UK?
HASNT THAT COUNTRY BEEN STEALING LONGER THAN MOST GLOBALLY?
IN ANY CASE, ITS ALL BECAUSE OF AFRICAN POLITICS AND AND BAD LEADERSHIP.
OTHERWISE, WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO LEAVE ANY OF THE THREE AFRICAN STATES,
TO GO TO THOSE COLD GREY AND RAINY ISLANDS WITH NO NOTHING?
tHE THREE AFRICAN COUNTRIES BEING THREATENED TOGETHER HAVE THE MOST RESOURCES, WHICH COULD BE TURNED INTO RICHES, MORE THAN THE ENTIRE EUROPE EXCLUDING RUSSIA.
SO WHY DO AFRICANS LEAVE THE BEST CLIMATE AND WEATHER, BEST REGION, BEST ENVIRONMENT, AND THE RICHEST ENDOWNED COUNTRIES FOR AN OVER USED, CROWDED AND OLD RESOURCE DEPRIVED ENVIRONMENT THAT THE UK IS? AFTER ALL, IF ITS ABOUT WOMEN FOR THE MEN, THEY CAN INVITE ALL THE WHITE GIRLS TO FIND US HERE IN AFRICA. THEY WOULD GLADLY COME IN THEIR MILLIONS