Context:

• India is expected to be added to the UK’s list of “safe states”, preventing those who illegally travel from seeking asylum in Britain

UK Drafts Legislation to Include India and Georgia in List of Safe Countries for Immigration

• Draft legislation: The bill tabled in the House of Commons(the UK) on November 8 includes India and Georgia as the countries to be added to the list. 
• Aim: The UK Home Office said the move aims to strengthen the country’s immigration system and help prevent abuse by people making unfounded protection claims.
• Expedite deportation: This move would speed up the process of returning Indians who travel from the country illegally and rule out their chance of seeking asylum in Britain.
• Other countries deemed safe by the UK include Albania, Switzerland, the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) states.

Understanding Key Terms in Immigration: Refugee, Asylum Seeker, and Illegal Migrant

• 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.
• Illegal Migration Act 2023: which aims to “stop the boats” by changing the law so that people who come to the UK illegally can be detained and then swiftly returned to a safe third country or their home country.
  • It is described as an important part of the government’s effort to break the cycle, end exploitation by gangs and prevent further loss of life and stop the boats and deter people from making dangerous journeys to the UK.
• The draft legislation adding India and Georgia to the Section 80AA list will be made under the UK’s Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, after the ability to do so was implemented through the Illegal Migration Act 2023.

Source: The Hindu