The UK will add India to its safe states list, so illegal Indian immigrants can't seek refuge

The UK government will add India to a list of "safe states" to speed up the repatriation of illegal Indian immigrants.

All Indian asylum petitions from tiny boats or illicit routes would be rejected with this amendment. They will be returned without appeals.The UK Home Office said that India and Georgia would be added to the ‘safe states’ list. It said the ruling would advance the “Illegal Migration Act 2023” and ban boats.

The UK Home Office listed Albania, Switzerland, and EU/EEA countries as safe. UK Home Secretary SuellaBraverman said they must prohibit “dangerous and illegal journeys” from “fundamentally safe nations” to the UK.

The UK Home Office can only include a country in the list of safe states (Section 80AA) if the Home Secretary is satisfied that there is no serious risk of persecution of its nationals, and removing nationals to that country cannot violate the UK's Human Rights Convention obligations.

The UK Home Office says Section 80AA country designations are subject to the draught affirmative process. Before the bill takes effect, both Houses of Parliament will discuss it.