Our Bureau
London
Migrants entering the UK illegally from countries deemed safe, such as India, will face expedited asylum applications for swift deportation under new proposals from the Labor government. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to transition staff from the previous Rwanda scheme to a Returns and Enforcement program, focusing on returning migrants to their home countries rather than relocating them to Rwanda. This initiative includes intensified raids on businesses hiring illegal workers, aiming to reduce the financial burden of housing migrants in hotels.
India was added to the UK’s “Safe States” list last November, which will accelerate the return of Indians who enter the country illegally, as Home Office data shows Indian asylum seekers have a very low acceptance rate. Cooper also revealed that 1,000 civil servants previously working on the now-abolished Rwanda deportation scheme will be redeployed to increase returns to countries of origin, starting with raids on businesses employing illegal workers, particularly in car washes and the beauty sector.
As per reports, the number of Indians illegally crossing the English Channel in small boats into the UK surged in 2023, with 1,192 arrivals compared to 748 in 2022, a nearly 60% increase. In the first three months of 2023, Indians were the second largest group after Afghans, making up 18% of the 3,793 total arrivals. However, the overall number of small boat arrivals decreased from 46,000 in 2022 to 29,000 in 2023. The UK government had previously proposed deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda to deter these crossings, but the impact on Indian migrants is unclear.
Following Labour’s decisive win in the July 4 general election, the newly appointed minister announced the establishment of a Border Security Command. A dedicated team in the Home Office is working to define its responsibilities, governance, and strategic objectives. This initiative includes plans to expedite asylum claims for migrants from designated ‘safe’ countries, aiming to enhance enforcement against organized immigration crime and improve border security efforts across Europe.
