Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that the United Kingdom may ban all Eritrean citizens from entering the country if the Eritrean government does not increase its cooperation regarding the return of its nationals. The measures target small boat migrants and foreign national offenders who currently have no legal right to remain in the UK.
The announcement follows what the UK government described as an abrupt withdrawal of cooperation by Eritrean authorities earlier this year. In response, the Home Office implemented immediate restrictions starting Thursday, which prohibit Eritrean diplomats from traveling more than 60 kilometers outside of London without specific permission. Additionally, the government has suspended fast-track visa processing for Eritrean VIPs.
Figures from the House of Commons Library indicate that Eritreans were the most frequent nationality arriving via small boats in the 12 months ending June 2024, representing 18% of all such arrivals. Mahmood stated that Eritrea has refused to accept the return of its citizens despite being given opportunities to do so, and she noted that similar measures could be applied to other non-cooperative nations. The Home Office stated that the travel limits on diplomats mirror restrictions currently placed on British officials in the Eritrean capital, Asmara.
For the individuals involved, a total visa ban would prevent travel from Eritrea to the UK for work, study, or family visits. The current diplomatic restrictions mean Eritrean officials must now seek formal authorization for any travel beyond a 60km radius of London. While the UK has used similar threats against countries like Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to secure cooperation agreements, Sumption noted that the government often avoids such bans on larger partners like Pakistan or Bangladesh due to the potential for significant "collateral damage" to trade and international student sectors.
The UK reported 40,605 total returns and deportations between July 2023 and June 2024, an 8% increase over the previous year. Of these, 5,962 individuals were convicted criminals and 3,310 had arrived via small boats. The Eritrean embassy has been contacted for comment regarding the new restrictions. No specific deadline has been reported for when the potential total visa ban would be triggered if cooperation does not improve.