The United Kingdom has issued a stern warning to Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, threatening to halt visa issuance to their nationals unless these countries agree to repatriate their citizens deemed as criminals or irregular migrants. This announcement, made by the UK Home Office on Monday, precedes a significant overhaul of the nation’s asylum system, described as the most comprehensive in modern history. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil these reforms, which aim to address the contentious issue of illegal migration, particularly the surge of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from France. The UK government has criticized the three African nations for their lack of cooperation in facilitating the return of migrants, giving them a one-month ultimatum to comply. The proposed measures, inspired by Denmark’s stringent asylum policies, include ending automatic benefits for asylum seekers, reducing refugee protections, and shortening the duration of refugee status from five years to 30 months. Additionally, refugees will face stricter conditions for permanent residency, with the waiting period extended from five to 20 years. These reforms have sparked criticism from charities and opposition lawmakers, who argue that they create unnecessary hardship for refugees and hinder their integration into society.