Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has threatened to ban Eritrean nationals from entering the UK unless their government agrees to take back more citizens who have no right to remain in Britain. The warning comes as the Government seeks to tackle illegal immigration and increase the number of people removed from the country.
Ms Mahmood has accused Eritrea of refusing to cooperate with efforts to return failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals to their home country.
New restrictions on Eritrean diplomats
From Thursday, October 15, Eritrean diplomats will face new restrictions on how far they can travel outside London, while fast-track visa services for VIPs will also be withdrawn. Eritrean diplomats will need permission to travel more than 60km outside London.
The Home Office said the measure reflects travel restrictions already imposed on British officials in Eritrea. The move comes after the UK Government accused Eritrean authorities of suddenly withdrawing their cooperation earlier this year.
Home Secretary's warning
Speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Mahmood said: "Eritrea has had every chance to accept the return of criminals and those with no right to be in the UK. Unlike other countries, it has refused. My message to the Eritrean government is simple: take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK. I will not hesitate to impose further measures on other countries refusing to cooperate."
The dispute comes as Eritreans make up a significant proportion of people crossing the English Channel in small boats. According to Home Office figures, Eritrean nationals accounted for around 18% of small boat arrivals in the 12 months to June 2026, making them the largest nationality group.
Eritrean arrivals and asylum claims
During that period, 5,875 Eritreans arrived in Britain by small boat, while 6,952 Eritrean nationals were reported to have claimed asylum.
Figures also show that Eritrean asylum seekers have an approval rate of just over 83%. Over the past four years, 2,626 Eritrean asylum claims have been rejected, while 106 failed asylum seekers from the country have been returned.
Pressure on other African countries
The Government has already used the threat of visa restrictions to put pressure on other African countries. Earlier this year, Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo were warned that restrictions could follow unless they agreed to accept the return of their nationals.
Angola and Namibia subsequently agreed to changes before penalties were introduced. Restrictions were also imposed on the Democratic Republic of Congo, although the Home Office said these were later lifted after cooperation improved.
The latest Government warning comes amid continued small boat crossings, with more than 20,400 people reported to have arrived in the UK since the beginning of 2026, around 40% fewer than during the same period last year. Meanwhile, more than 40,600 returns from the UK were recorded between July 2025 and June 2026, an increase of 8% compared with the previous year.
