Government Signs Deal with Iraq to Return Illegal Migrants in Latest Bid to Deter Small Boats

Published: 20 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

The UK government has signed a new agreement with Iraq to return illegal migrants as part of its wider strategy to deter small boat crossings across the English Channel.

The deal, signed by Home Office minister Dan Jarvis during a visit to London by Iraq’s deputy foreign minister Faud Hussein, establishes a formal process for returning Iraqi nationals who arrive in Britain without the legal right to remain. Officials said the accord would enable the “swift” removal of such individuals.

It follows on from an £800,000 agreement made last year with Baghdad to assist the Iraqi authorities in tackling smuggling networks and organised crime, as well as a pledge earlier this year by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Iraq’s premier Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to deepen bilateral cooperation on migration.

According to Home Office figures, the number of Iraqis arriving in the UK by small boat has declined to 1,900 in the year to March 2025, down from 2,600 in the previous twelve months. The government believes the new deal will reinforce that downward trend.

Mr Jarvis said the agreement represented “serious diplomacy that delivers real results.” He added: “By working together on security, development and migration challenges, we are building stronger relationships that benefit both our countries whilst tackling shared challenges like organised crime and irregular migration.”

The deal with Iraq is the latest in a series of returns agreements signed under Labour’s administration. Similar arrangements have been concluded with Albania and Vietnam, while a new deal with France allows the UK to send back small boat arrivals from French shores. Under the Franco-British agreement, for every migrant returned to France, a capped number of legitimate asylum seekers with proven family ties to Britain will be transferred to the UK. Ministers hope the policy will act as a deterrent to those attempting dangerous Channel crossings.

Despite these measures, small boat arrivals continue. Home Office statistics show that 116 migrants crossed the Channel in two boats on 15 August alone.

Mr Jarvis, who previously served in Iraq, said the accord highlighted the value of building “enduring relationships” in the Middle East. “The new agreement we have signed is a testament to the trust and co-operation we’ve built with our Iraqi counterparts,” he noted.

However, the deal has already faced political criticism. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of failing to control immigration, arguing that more than 50,000 people had crossed the Channel since Labour came to power. He claimed the government had “surrendered our borders” and dismissed the Iraq agreement as “a sham designed to look tough while crossings keep soaring.”

Mr Philp added: “Labour has scrapped Conservative deterrents and created the conditions for chaos, leaving the British people to foot the bill. Only the Conservatives will stop the crossings and restore control of Britain’s borders.”

The government insists the new deal forms part of a longer-term strategy to manage migration and strengthen partnerships with countries of origin and transit. Whether the Iraq agreement will have a significant impact on overall numbers remains to be seen.