The government has signed a new returns agreement with Iraq to remove migrants who have no right to stay, as part of wider efforts to curb small-boat crossings. The deal, signed by Home Office minister Dan Jarvis, establishes a formal process to return Iraqis who arrive in the UK unlawfully. It follows an £800,000 deal with Baghdad last year aimed at disrupting smuggling networks and organised crime. Earlier this year, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Iraq’s prime minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani agreed to strengthen co-operation on migration. Mr Jarvis signed the agreement during a visit by Iraq’s deputy foreign minister Faud Hussein; the Home Office said the accord would allow the swift return of illegal migrants.

Home Office figures show Iraqi arrivals by small boats fell to 1,900 in the year to March 2025, down from 2,600 in the previous year. Mr Jarvis said that by working together on security, development and migration challenges, the two countries would benefit while tackling shared issues such as organised crime and irregular migration. The returns deal is the latest step in the government’s drive to stop small-boat crossings. Similar arrangements have been made with Albania and Vietnam, and a separate deal with France has recently come into force, enabling the return of some migrants who reached the UK via the Channel to France. Under the France scheme, those able to show a genuine family link to the UK may be exchanged for a French asylum seeker; the cap is in place to deter crossings. The Home Office also reported 116 migrants arrived on two small boats on 15 August.

“This visit reinforces the strength of the UK-Iraq partnership and demonstrates our government’s commitment to serious diplomacy that delivers real results,” Mr Jarvis said. “As someone who served in Iraq, I understand first-hand the importance of building enduring relationships in the region, and the new agreement we have signed is a testament to the trust and co-operation we’ve built with our Iraqi counterparts.” The announcement drew criticism from Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp, who argued Labour’s immigration policy has failed to deter crossings and that most small-boat arrivals are not Iraqi. He said the deal with Iraq would have little impact and warned of higher costs for communities without addressing the broader border challenge.