Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has issued a stark warning to Eritrea, threatening to impose a complete ban on its citizens entering the United Kingdom unless the east African nation begins accepting deportations of failed asylum seekers and criminals.
The ultimatum follows Eritrea’s decision to abruptly withdraw cooperation on returns earlier this year, according to the Home Office. Officials and VIPs from the country have already lost fast-track visa privileges as an initial sanction.
According to The Guardian, Eritreans represented the most common nationality arriving in the UK by small boat in the year ending June 2026, with nearly 6,000 people making the Channel crossing. Despite this, deportation figures remain remarkably low.
Deportation numbers reveal enforcement challenge
Just over 100 refused asylum seekers from Eritrea have been removed from the UK in the past four years, representing less than 4 per cent of the 2,626 people whose claims were rejected during that period. The Home Office said returns arrangements are vital for removing individuals who have been refused asylum and foreign criminals.
“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,” Mahmood said in a statement. “My message to the Eritrean government is simple: take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK.”
The Home Secretary added that she would not hesitate to impose further measures on other countries refusing to cooperate with deportation demands.
Similar threats have worked before
The UK government has employed this strategy previously with some success. In 2025, visa sanctions were threatened against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo over similar non-cooperation on migrant returns.
Angola and Namibia subsequently agreed to work with British authorities on deportations. The Democratic Republic of the Congo initially faced visa restrictions but eventually reached an agreement with the UK in February this year.
Refugee organisations have urged the government not to reject Eritrean asylum applicants outright, noting that the UK typically accepts the vast majority of claims from Eritreans, who are often escaping war, famine and conflict in their homeland.
What this means for Poles in the UK
This policy shift does not directly affect Polish nationals, who as EU citizens enjoyed freedom of movement before Brexit and now hold settled or pre-settled status if they registered under the EU Settlement Scheme. However, it demonstrates the government’s increasingly assertive approach to immigration enforcement and international cooperation on deportations.
For Poles working in sectors that employ asylum seekers or recent migrants, the policy may affect labour availability in certain industries, particularly hospitality and care work. The Home Office’s willingness to impose blanket visa restrictions on entire nationalities also signals a tougher stance on countries that fail to cooperate with UK immigration policy.
Polish citizens should ensure their settled status documentation remains up to date and carry proof of their right to live and work in the UK, as the government continues to tighten border controls and enforcement measures. Information on settled status can be found on the official gov.uk website.
