ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom (UK) may suspend visa access for countries that refuse to take back deported nationals, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said after hosting a key meeting of the “Five Eyes” security alliance in London.
“If countries don’t play ball, we will take action, including possibly cutting visas in the future,” Mahmood told reporters at a press conference.
The Five Eyes summit brought together security ministers from the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The talks focused on joint efforts to dismantle people-smuggling networks, tackle online child sexual abuse, and curb the spread of synthetic opioids.
Mahmood emphasized that securing the UK’s borders is her “top priority.”
The UK already has migrant return agreements in place with countries including Albania, India, Vietnam, and Nigeria. Nations that fail to cooperate on deportations now risk visa restrictions for their citizens.
So far this year, more than 30,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats. A figure Mahmood described as “utterly unacceptable.”
Critics warn of diplomatic fallout
Opposition politicians and migrant rights groups have warned that imposing visa sanctions could damage diplomatic relations and complicate forced removals. Still, Mahmood defended the approach, citing the scale of the migration crisis: “I will do whatever it takes.”
Historic appointment, high stakes
Mahmood’s appointment as Home Secretary is historic: she is the first Muslim woman and first British-Pakistani to hold the role. The milestone has drawn both praise and heightened scrutiny.
As she moves to reshape UK immigration policy, Mahmood faces the dual challenges of delivering swift, visible results while managing the diplomatic and public pressures that come with one of Britain’s most politically charged portfolios.
