Threatened with visa restrictions, two African countries agree to receive illegal immigrants returned by Britain
Shabana Mahmood. Credit: Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com / Splash / Profimedia
The British Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, had threatened Namibia and Angola that she would impose visa restrictions on them, so the states in question agreed to intensify their efforts to take back their citizens deported from the United Kingdom, PA Media/dpa informs Sunday, according to Agerpres.
In November, Shabana Mahmood threatened a possible freeze on visas for foreign nationals from countries whose governments do not step up cooperation in removing illegal migrants from the UK.
She pointed to Namibia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the first countries facing a possible ban, although the number of visas issued for the three states is small, dpa notes.
“We expect countries to follow the rules”
The Home Office in London accuses these countries of thwarting efforts to remove thousands of illegal migrants and criminals, having “unacceptably weak and obstructive return processes” and refusing to process documents.
The body announced that Angola and Namibia have now agreed new processes, which will see the UK return illegal migrants and criminals in the coming months.
In addition, London revoked fast-track visa processing and halted preferential visa treatment for diplomats and VIPs from the DRC as a warning after the country's authorities failed to make changes.
Although the DRC has since made some commitments, the British Home Secretary has threatened the possibility of further action.
Shabana Mahmood “will not hesitate to go further and ban visas to other countries that refuse to take their citizens back,” a government source said.
“We expect countries to follow the rules. If one of their citizens has no right to be here, they have to take them back,” Mahmood said.
She thanked Angola and Namibia.
“Now is the time for the Democratic Republic of Congo to do the right thing. Take your citizens back or lose the privilege of entering our country. This is just the beginning of the steps I am taking to secure our border and speed up the expulsion of those who have no right to be here,” the British home secretary added.
