The UK-Iraq border deal is a betrayal of vulnerable communities

The recent announcement of a UK-Iraq border security pact demands urgent scrutiny, particularly from those of us who have worked closely with displaced and vulnerable communities in Iraq. Framed as a measure to combat organised crime, the agreement risks exacerbating the precarity of those it purports to protect. Having witnessed firsthand the struggles of so many in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, we find this policy both short-sighted and morally indefensible. Based on our experiences working with displaced communities in Iraq, we consider that this “deal” represents not only a failure of compassion, but an outright assault on the most vulnerable. Below we explain why.