Times has learned of Britain's talks with Iraq and Turkey to slow the flow of migrants

The UK government is believed to be in talks with Turkey, Vietnam and officials in the Kurdistan region of Iraq about possible payments to help slow the flow of illegal migrants into the UK. This was reported by The Times on November 17.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said London was doing the right thing by discouraging people from leaving their home countries and heading across the dangerous English Channel.

On his way to the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Rio de Janeiro, Starmer told reporters that the British government also has plans to crack down on criminal gangs involved in human smuggling.

"Anything we can do to stop people leaving is the right thing to do," the British prime minister said.

According to the Times, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is negotiating cooperation and security agreements with several governments that could be finalized by the end of the year.

In late April, British authorities expelled the first illegal migrant to Rwanda as part of a plan to resolve the migration crisis. The migrant left voluntarily in exchange for a ticket home and 3 thousand pounds sterling (about $3.75 thousand).

The law on the expulsion of illegal immigrants to Rwanda was adopted on January 17 by the British House of Commons. It was noted that the agreement with the Republic implies the exclusion of the possibility of expulsion of migrants to their native countries, where they may face danger.

In December 2023, Bloomberg agency wrote that close to a record number of migrants arrived in the UK in 2023. It was specified that 672,000 more people moved into the country than left. This became a problem for Sunak, who promised to reduce the number of migrants.

In August of the same year, the UK increased fines for employers who hire illegals. The penalties are up to £60,000 ($76,400).