UK and Iraq Sign Landmark Deal to Combat People Smuggling and Illegal Migration

The agreement includes faster deportations, joint operations against smuggling networks, and funding for law enforcement training in Iraq.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper finalized a security deal with Iraq to tackle people smuggling and illegal migration during a three-day visit to Baghdad and Erbil.
The agreement facilitates faster deportations of failed asylum seekers from the UK to Iraq by expediting identity verification and documentation processes.
The UK will provide £800,000 to support Iraqi law enforcement, including £300,000 for border security training and £200,000 for biometric system upgrades.
Joint operations will target smuggling networks operating from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which are linked to Channel crossings and broader organized crime.
A UK-funded public awareness campaign in Iraq will counter smuggler propaganda, warning of the dangers and likely deportation for migrants attempting to reach the UK.