UK Govt Proposes To Add India To List Of 'Safe Countries', Will Speed Up Return Of Indians Traveling Illegally

The British government has presented a plan to add India to an expanded list of safe countries, which will speed up the return of Indians traveling illegally from the country and prevent them from seeking asylum in Britain as reported by The New Indian Express.

The bill passed by the House of Commons on Wednesday (8 November) adds India and Georgia to the list.

Britain's Home Office said the move aims to strengthen the country's immigration system and help prevent abuse by people who make unfounded protection claims.

"Expanding this list will help us more quickly remove people who have no right to be here and send a clear message that if you come here illegally, you can't stay here. We remain committed to implementing our illegal immigration law, which plays a role in illegal immigration," said UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

The move is in line with measures to fulfill British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's promise to "stop the boats" and restrict migrants from landing illegally in the country and on its shores after precarious journeys across the English Channel.

The Home Office said there had been an increase in the arrival of small boats from India and Georgia over the past year, although people from those countries were not at clear risk of persecution.

Other countries considered safe by the UK are Albania and Switzerland, as well as European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

A country can be added to the UK's list of safe countries, known legislatively as Section 80AA if the Home Secretary is satisfied that there is generally no risk of persecution of its nationals and that deporting nationals to that country would not be inconsistent with the UK's obligations under the Convention on Human Rights.

The latest measures are part of Illegal Migration Act 2023, which aims to "stop the boats," changing the law so that people entering the UK illegally are arrested and then quickly returned to a safe third country or home country.

Further measures, including forced deportations, will be introduced in the coming months.

The Home Office said the government remained determined to stop the boats and prevent people from making the dangerous journey to Britain.

The Home Office stated, "This problem is being tackled on all fronts, including working with international partners at an early stage, tackling criminal groups through increased enforcement and working with the French to prevent more crossings."

The bill to add India and Georgia to the Section 80AA list is being made under the UK Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 after the Illegal Immigration Act 2023 introduced the option.