UK plans to add India to ‘safe states’ list, speeding up deportation of illegal migrants
The UK Home Office reports that 675 Indian nationals, mostly men aged 25 to 40, entered the UK illegally on small boats between January and March, attempting to avoid work visa restrictions.
The United Kingdom has announced a new plan to add India to its list of safe countries. This move is expected to speed up the return of individuals who have entered the UK illegally from India, eliminating their chance to seek asylum in Britain. This new plan comes as part of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy to stop illegal immigration.
“Adding India to the list would allow us to remove people who have no right to be in the UK more swiftly,” says UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman. “It sends a clear message – if you enter illegally, you cannot stay.”
Put simply, Indian citizens who travel to the UK illegally – whether by small boat or other means – will no longer be allowed to seek asylum in Britain. These individuals will be deemed inadmissible and will be promptly returned to their home country.
“We remain committed to delivering the measures in our Illegal Migration Act,” continues Braverman. “This is an essential part in the fight against illegal migration.”
The action aligns with Sunak’s pledge to prevent illegal migrants from landing on UK shores. It’s an effort to strengthen the UK’s immigration system and deter unfounded asylum claims. Interestingly, the UK government has seen a rise in boat arrivals from India and Georgia, despite individuals not being at obvious risk of persecution.
Here’s what you should know about the ‘safe states’ list. According to UK law, a country can only be added to the list if there’s no serious risk of persecution of its nationals, and removal of nationals to that country doesn’t go against the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Convention.
“We have strictly assessed India and Georgia,” adds the UK government statement. “We’ve determined that both meet these criteria.”
Apart from India and Georgia, the list of safe nations includes Albania, Switzerland, and other European Union and European Economic Area states.
More Indians have been arriving in the UK illegally in recent months. The UK Home Office reports that 675 Indian nationals, mostly men aged 25 to 40, entered the UK illegally on small boats between January and March, attempting to avoid work visa restrictions.
The migration issue is topmost on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s agenda. The UK government is committed to ensure that people are contributing to the economy by paying taxes and complying with other rules. “Those who enter the UK illegally will not be allowed to claim asylum,” he had announced earlier in March.
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