Trending 
Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have agreed to take back their citizens who are in the United Kingdom illegally or who have been convicted of crimes, the United Kingdom government said on Friday.
The agreements followed warnings from Britain that visa privileges would be limited if they failed to take back their nationals.
The UK Home Office said Namibia and Angola agreed to cooperate about a month after the Home Secretary threatened visa penalties.
“A month after the Home Secretary threatened visa penalties, Namibia and Angola agreed to cooperate on returns,” the government said on its website.
It added that cooperation from the DRC was secured weeks after the UK removed special visa treatment for senior officials and ended fast-track visa services for Congolese nationals.
“Within three months, cooperation has been secured, and flights are already off the ground,” the government said.
While Angola, Namibia and the DRC are now cooperating, the UK said other countries were still refusing to accept the return of their nationals.
“The Home Secretary has been clear that those who refuse to work with the UK on returns cannot expect a normal visa relationship, with further threats expected where countries are not cooperating,” it added.
The new policy, according to the UK government, comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged departments to use every tool at their disposal to bring the immigration system back under control and order and to take a more transactional approach with nations that rely on their cooperation on returns.
According to the Home Office, removals of people with no legal right to stay in the UK are at a record level, with 58,500 people deported or removed since the current government took office.
More than 3,000 nationals from Angola, Namibia and the DRC could now be eligible for removal following the agreements, it said.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said countries that refuse to cooperate would face consequences.
“My message is clear, if foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences,” Mahmood said.
“Illegal migrants and dangerous criminals will now be removed and deported back to Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” she added.
Mahmood said the government would “do what it takes to restore order and control to our borders”.
