— New home secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK may suspend visa access for countries that refuse to accept returned nationals, after hosting a Five Eyes meeting in London on Monday. The talks — attended by the US homeland security secretary and counterparts from Canada, Australia and New Zealand — focused on co-operation to reduce small‑boat Channel crossings. Mahmood said her “top priority” is securing the UK border; the comment came after 1,097 people crossed on Saturday, part of more than 30,000 arrivals so far this year. The proposal would link future visa access to a country’s willingness to accept failed asylum seekers returned from the UK.
Key takeaways
- The meeting took place in London on Monday and included US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ministers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK is considering coordinated action among Five Eyes partners, including possible future visa suspensions for states that refuse returns.
- Saturday saw 1,097 people arrive in the UK by small boat; Home Office data show more than 30,000 total arrivals by small boat so far in 2025.
- PA analysis cited in reporting puts the 2025 small‑boat figure 37% higher than in 2024.
- Oxford Migration Observatory highlighted countries with low return rates and high visa demand — examples given include India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.
- The announcement was framed as an additional tool alongside other measures Prime Minister’s office described as aimed at cracking down on illegal migration.
- Domestic politics are central: Mahmood’s appointment and the visa remarks reinforce the government’s emphasis on immigration control.
Background
Channel crossings in small boats have been a persistent political issue in the UK, rising sharply in recent years and attracting cross‑party attention. The government and opposition have both signalled interest in tougher levers to limit arrivals and speed up returns; in June the prime minister said British visa access could be linked to co‑operation on returns. The Five Eyes grouping — a long‑standing intelligence partnership between the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — has historically focused on classified intelligence sharing but has occasionally coordinated on broader security matters.
Shabana Mahmood took office as home secretary in a major cabinet reshuffle, replacing Yvette Cooper; her appointment has been read as part of the prime minister’s effort to signal tougher action on illegal migration. The government’s toolkit already includes inland enforcement, asylum case processing reforms and contingency accommodation options; ministers are also examining use of military sites to house people while their claims are resolved. Any policy tying visas to returns will intersect with diplomatic, legal and human‑rights considerations and likely prompt lobbying from affected countries.
Main event
At Monday’s London meeting Mahmood discussed coordinated approaches to stem irregular migration and to strengthen returns co‑operation among Five Eyes partners. The delegation included US DHS Secretary Kristi Noem — who oversees US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — along with Canadian public safety and Australian and New Zealand home affairs ministers. Delegates also addressed online child sexual abuse and opioid supply as part of a broader security agenda at the summit.
Mahmood said there is “interesting space for collaborating” on countries that do not take back nationals with no right to remain, and described the possibility of using visa restrictions as a lever. She did not name specific countries that might face future suspensions. A Downing Street spokesman said joint Five Eyes co‑operation on illegal migration would be another tool in the government’s armoury to return people with no right to be in the UK.
The comment followed a weekend surge: Saturday saw 1,097 arrivals by small boat, which Mahmood described as “utterly unacceptable.” Home Office figures put 2025’s total small‑boat arrivals at more than 30,000, a 37% increase on last year according to PA’s analysis. Shadow and opposition figures reacted quickly, framing the announcement in partisan terms and calling for either tougher action or questioning the government’s capacity to deliver.
Analysis & implications
Diplomatic impact: Conditioning visa access on returns co‑operation risks diplomatic friction with countries that supply large numbers of migrants or whose citizens apply for UK visas routinely. Nations listed by experts as having both high visa demand and low return rates — such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal — may push back, using trade, mobility or reciprocal visa measures in response.
Operational feasibility: Implementing conditional visa suspensions across multiple bilateral relationships would require careful legal work and coordinated policy among Five Eyes partners. Visa policy is a sovereign prerogative, but broad, coordinated penalties carry reputational and reciprocity risks. Consular and commercial channels could be affected if states close routes or restrict their citizens’ travel to the UK.
Effect on returns and irregular migration: Visa pressure could increase returns in some cases if states prefer to preserve travel access, but it may also prompt migrants to seek alternative routes or transit countries. Enforcement measures that do not expand legal pathways or speed up fair asylum determinations risk shifting flows rather than reducing them. Humanitarian and legal safeguards will remain central to any return programme to avoid refoulement or undue procedural shortcuts.
Domestic politics and public messaging: Mahmood’s statement consolidates the government’s public focus on border control and complements other measures — including exploring military or non‑hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. Politically, the move signals to domestic audiences that the government is pursuing tougher tools; its effectiveness will be judged by short‑term arrivals and longer‑term return rates, as well as by legal and diplomatic fallout.
Comparison & data
| Metric | 2025 (to date) | Change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Small‑boat arrivals | >30,000 | +37% (PA analysis) |
| Peak single‑day arrivals (recent) | 1,097 (Saturday) | — |
The table sets documented figures from Home Office statistics and PA analysis: more than 30,000 small‑boat arrivals in 2025 to date and a reported 37% rise year‑on‑year. The single‑day count of 1,097 was recorded on Mahmood’s first full day in office and has been cited by ministers as evidence of the scale and urgency of the problem. These headline figures frame why ministers are seeking new diplomatic and administrative levers.
Reactions & quotes
Government spokespeople presented the Five Eyes understanding as a practical addition to the UK’s response toolkit, stressing cross‑border co‑operation. Opposition and external experts offered divergent interpretations, stressing risks and potential diplomatic costs.
“My top priority is securing the UK’s borders.”
Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary
The home secretary used the line to summarise her public mandate and to link the visa discussion to a broader return strategy. She reiterated that she wants partner states to take responsibility for nationals with no right to remain in the UK.
“It is about time this Labour government stopped talking tough and started acting tough.”
Chris Philp, Conservative MP (shadow comment)
The Conservative response framed the announcement as overdue and urged additional measures such as cutting aid to countries that refuse returns. Labour ministers, meanwhile, emphasised legal pathway expansion and enforcement within domestic law.
“How countries respond will depend on how much they value visa access; countries such as India have long lobbied for travel options.”
Dr Madeleine Sumption, Migration Observatory (Oxford)
Academic analysis highlighted that the diplomatic effectiveness of visa leverage will vary across countries, depending on their priorities and the value they place on travel to the UK for citizens.
Unconfirmed
- No official list has been published naming which countries would face visa suspensions; specific targets remain unannounced.
- It is not confirmed whether Five Eyes partners have agreed a binding mechanism to implement coordinated visa cuts.
- The likely legal timetable for imposing visa restrictions and the precise criteria for action have not been disclosed.
- The degree to which visa leverage alone would increase actual return rates is unproven and depends on bilateral responses.
Bottom line
The home secretary’s proposal to use visa suspensions as leverage marks a notable move to internationalise a domestic policy challenge: reducing small‑boat crossings and increasing returns. It signals the UK government’s intent to broaden its toolkit and to seek coordinated measures with close security partners, but it stops short of immediate action or named targets.
Implementation would raise practical and diplomatic questions — from legal design and human‑rights safeguards to reciprocal actions by affected states — that will determine whether the policy reduces irregular migration or simply shifts its dynamics. Observers should watch for which countries are engaged, the legal frameworks ministers adopt, and whether parallel measures expand safe and legal pathways to reduce pressure on irregular routes.