UK threatens to block Eritreans unless returns deal is agreed

Summary

The UK has threatened to block Eritreans from entering unless a deal is agreed on returning rejected asylum seekers and criminals. Eritrea’s government called the threat a “perfunctory political gimmick” and said the UK had failed to engage in meaningful dialogue, according to The Guardian.

Timeline

1. bbc.co.uk

   14 Oct 2026, 21:30 UTCSource ↗

   BBC News reports that the UK has threatened to ban Eritreans over its migrant return policy.

2. theguardian.com

   15 Oct 2026, 16:40 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Eritrea accused Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of a political gimmick after she threatened to block Eritreans from entering unless a returns deal was agreed, and that Eritrea’s embassy said the UK had failed to engage in meaningful dialogue.