- The UK government has agreed a new deal with Iraq to establish a formal process for returning Iraqi nationals who have arrived in the UK without the right to remain.
- Home Office minister Dan Jarvis signed the accord with Iraq’s deputy foreign minister Faud Hussein, aiming to facilitate the swift repatriation of illegal migrants.
- This agreement follows an £800,000 deal last year to help Iraq combat smuggling networks and builds on earlier cooperation discussions between Sir Keir Starmer and Iraq’s prime minister.
- Home Office statistics indicate a decrease in Iraqi small boat arrivals, with 1,900 in the year to March 2025, down from 2,600 in the previous year.
- The initiative is part of the UK’s broader strategy to deter illegal Channel crossings, complementing existing return agreements with countries like Albania, Vietnam, and France, though it has faced criticism from the Conservative shadow home secretary.
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