UK visa suspension is on the table for countries that refuse to cooperate with migrant return agreements, according to new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Speaking at a high-level Five Eyes security summit in London, Mahmood said the UK will consider cutting visas for nations that do not accept back their citizens who have no right to remain.
Mahmood: Securing Borders Is “Top Priority”
Addressing reporters for the first time since her appointment, Mahmood said her top priority is securing UK borders, especially amid record numbers of Channel crossings.
On Saturday alone—her first full day in office—1,097 people arrived in small boats, one of the highest daily totals on record. More than 30,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, up 37% compared to the same period last year, according to Home Office data.
Mahmood called the figures “utterly unacceptable,” promising tougher action against people smugglers and nations reluctant to cooperate.
Linking Visas to Return Agreements
The UK visa suspension policy under discussion would effectively tie visa access to how well foreign governments collaborate on migrant returns.
“For countries that do not play ball, we have been talking about taking much more coordinated action between the Five Eyes countries,” Mahmood explained.
“And for us that means the possibility of cutting visas in the future to say we do expect countries to play by the rules. If one of your citizens has no right to be in our country, you have to take them back.”
Mahmood did not name specific countries that might face restrictions, but the approach echoes Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s earlier call for a more “transactional” visa system.
Five Eyes Summit: Security and Border Cooperation
The announcement came during the Five Eyes partnership meeting, an intelligence-sharing alliance between the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Attendees included:
- Kristi Noem, US Secretary of Homeland Security
- Judith Collins, New Zealand’s Public Safety Minister
- Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Public Safety Minister
- Tony Burke, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister
Topics ranged from illegal migration and border security to combating child sexual abuse and tackling the opioid crisis. Mahmood emphasized the need for greater intelligence cooperation to “hit people smugglers hard” and close loopholes exploited by criminal networks.
Broader Immigration Strategy
The UK visa suspension proposal is part of a wider strategy to reform the asylum system. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the government is considering using military and non-military sites to house asylum seekers, aiming to reduce reliance on hotels.
The cabinet reshuffle that brought Mahmood into the Home Office has been widely interpreted as a sign that Starmer intends to take a firmer stance on immigration. Mahmood, known within Labour as a hardliner on border control, is expected to lead a crackdown on irregular migration.
Conclusion: A Turning Point in UK Immigration Policy?
The potential UK visa suspension marks a significant shift in Britain’s immigration policy, signaling tougher consequences for countries unwilling to cooperate on migrant returns.
With record Channel crossings continuing and public pressure mounting, Mahmood and her Five Eyes partners are framing border security as a shared global challenge. Whether visa suspensions will prove an effective deterrent remains to be seen, but the UK’s message is clear: cooperation is no longer optional.
📌 Source: BBC
