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UK Curbs DRC Visas, Secures Deportation Deals with Angola, Namibia

Are visa sanctions effective border security, or performative crackdowns that punish innocent travelers?
UK Curbs DRC Visas, Secures Deportation Deals with Angola, Namibia
Above: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood arrives at Downing Street on Dec. 9. Image credit: Zeynep Demir/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Pressuring states that refuse to readmit their own nationals is necessary to keep border enforcement credible. Deportation decisions mean little if returns can be delayed or blocked at will by countries of origin. Allowing the return of criminals and irregular migrants to be obstructed undermines the rule of law and public trust.

Government-critical narrative

Imposing blanket visa restrictions punishes ordinary travelers, students, and diplomats for disputes they did not create, while leaving the root drivers of migration untouched. These performative measures amount to scapegoating, fueling racism and social tension rather than delivering workable solutions, while targeting countries that issue only a few hundred work and study visas a year turns enforcement into political theater.



The Controversies



Go Deeper


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO



© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0