On August 20, 2025, the United Kingdom and Iraq announced a new agreement designed to accelerate the return of Iraqi nationals who have entered the UK without the legal right to remain. The deal, signed by UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis and Iraq’s Deputy Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein during a two-day diplomatic visit, marks the latest move in the UK government’s ongoing campaign to curb illegal migration, particularly the perilous small boat crossings over the English Channel.
The agreement formalizes procedures to swiftly repatriate those who fail to qualify for asylum, building on a series of recent international efforts aimed at undermining the criminal networks that facilitate these dangerous journeys. According to the BBC, more than 27,000 people have attempted the Channel crossing so far in 2025, a significant increase from the 18,000 recorded over the same period last year. However, the number of Iraqi nationals making the crossing has actually declined—from 2,600 in the year ending March 2024 to 1,900 in the year ending March 2025, as reported by the Home Office.
Minister Dan Jarvis emphasized the strategic depth of the UK-Iraq partnership, stating, “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.” Jarvis, who previously served in Iraq, underscored the importance of trust and cooperation, adding, “This visit reinforces the strength of the UK-Iraq partnership and demonstrates our government’s commitment to serious diplomacy that delivers real results.”
This latest agreement is not an isolated initiative. It follows an £800,000 package announced last year, which was aimed at bolstering Iraqi law enforcement and border security. The funding has supported training, capacity building, and projects to disrupt people-smuggling operations, many of which are reportedly run by Iraqi Kurds, according to the BBC. The UK government credits these measures with contributing to the recent decline in Iraqi arrivals via small boats.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani had earlier pledged to deepen cooperation on migration. The current deal is seen as a concrete step in that direction, reflecting what the government describes as a “reset” in international partnerships. Rather than focusing solely on transactional arrangements, the UK is seeking broader strategic collaborations that encompass not just migration, but also regional security, trade, and development.
The visit by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein included discussions on issues ranging from Baghdad-Erbil relations to defense cooperation and economic ties. As part of the growing trade relationship, the UK reiterated its support for infrastructure development projects in Iraq, building on a trade package worth up to £12.3 billion for UK businesses announced during Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s visit to London in January.
While the government touts the agreement as evidence of its commitment to restoring order to the asylum system, the policy has not escaped criticism. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp dismissed the deal as insufficient, arguing, “Over 50,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel in Labour’s short time in power, the worst illegal immigration crisis in our history. Labour has surrendered our borders, and the consequences are being felt in our communities, from rising crime to shocking cases of rape and sexual assault by recent arrivals.” He continued, “Now they boast about a measly returns deal with Iraq, but barely any small boat arrivals are Iraqi, and most would qualify for asylum anyway. It’s a sham designed to look tough while crossings keep soaring.”
Philp’s comments reflect a broader political divide over migration policy. While the Labour government points to a 14% increase in the number of people returned with no right to be in the UK—more than 35,000 in its first year in office—Conservative critics argue that the overall number of crossings remains unacceptably high and that returns agreements like the one with Iraq are too limited in scope to make a meaningful impact. The government, for its part, notes that similar deals have already been struck with Albania and Vietnam, and that a new operational treaty with France now allows for the detention and return of small boat arrivals in exchange for accepting an equivalent number of asylum seekers from France who have legitimate family ties to the UK.
The new agreement with Iraq also comes as the UK government introduces tougher deportation policies. Recent legislative changes have lowered the threshold for deporting foreign national offenders from 50% to 30% of their sentence served, and new powers allow for the immediate deportation of offenders directly from prison once the relevant laws take effect. The ‘Deport First, Appeal Later’ scheme is also being expanded from eight countries to 23, making it easier for the government to remove foreign criminals before appeals are heard, and easing pressure on the UK’s detention and prison system.
Despite the tightening of procedures, not all Iraqis arriving by small boat will be subject to immediate return. The BBC reports that around 26% of Iraqis who made the crossing in the year to March 2025 were granted asylum at the initial decision stage, reflecting the ongoing challenges of balancing border enforcement with the UK’s obligations under international law to protect those fleeing genuine persecution.
According to Home Office figures cited by The Independent, 116 migrants arrived aboard two small boats on August 15, 2025—a reminder that the flow of Channel crossings, though fluctuating by nationality, remains a persistent issue. The government maintains that its “Plan for Change” is designed to secure Britain’s borders through robust international diplomacy, while upholding the country’s tradition of providing sanctuary to those in need through safe and legal routes.
Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer highlighted the broader ambitions of the UK-Iraq relationship, stating, “The UK-Iraq relationship has entered a new era—going from strength to strength across a number of areas, including driving economic growth and ensuring regional stability. We will continue to use innovative foreign policy approaches to secure Britain’s borders and support development through partnerships.”
As the UK government continues to pursue bilateral and multilateral agreements to address illegal migration, the deal with Iraq stands as a symbol of its strategy: combining tough border enforcement with diplomatic engagement and international cooperation. Whether these measures will be enough to stem the tide of Channel crossings remains to be seen, but for now, ministers are betting that deeper partnerships—rather than quick fixes—will yield the results they seek.
For both the UK and Iraq, the agreement marks another step in a complex journey toward managing migration, strengthening security, and fostering economic ties in an increasingly interconnected world.
