India to be in UK safe list for Asylum seekers

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context: The UK government has announced that it will add India to a list of “safe states”

More about the news:

The UK government plans to include India in an expanded list of safe states, facilitating faster repatriation of Indians who enter the country illegally and preventing them from seeking asylum.
The move aims to strengthen immigration controls and discourage unfounded protection claims.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman emphasized the need to deter illegal journeys, aligning with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s commitment to “stop the boats.”
The draft legislation, part of the Illegal Migration Act 2023, designates India as a safe country, subject to parliamentary scrutiny before implementation.
The UK Home Office aims to tackle illegal migration comprehensively, collaborating internationally and enhancing enforcement measures.

What are the countries in in UK’s safe states list

India, Georgia, Albania, Switzerland, as well as the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) states
The EEA links the EU member states and three EFTA statesi.e Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway into an internal market governed by the same basic rules.

When can a country be added to the UK’s safe states list:

A country can only be added to the UK’s safe states list known legislatively as Section 80AA if the Home Secretary is satisfied that:
- There is, in general, no serious risk of persecution of its nationals, and;
- Removal of nationals to that country cannot go against the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Convention.