800 Percent Increase in Indian Nationals Arriving on Small Boats, Analysis Shows

Experts urge British government to nip trend ‘in the bud’ as free visa entry to Europe gateway is being used by Indian nationals to make perilous journey.

A migrant arrives in England after being intercepted in the English Channel by the UK Border Force. In 2021, the number of boat migrants tripled to 28,000 from 2020, on Jan. 18, 2022. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The number of Indian nationals arriving in the UK illegally via small boats has increased by 800 percent in four years, an Epoch Times analysis found.

Since 2019, more than 1,746 Indians have been recorded as having made the perilous journey across the English Channel, with figures dramatically increasing this year.

According to the latest Home Office statistics, 867 immigrants from India have made the journey in the first six months of 2023—already beating last year’s total figure of 748.

In the first quarter of 2023, Indian arrivals came second only to the largest small boat group, Afghans, reported to be fleeing the grip of the Taliban.

Experts say the surprising hike in Indians recorded as seeking asylum via small boat is due to a combination of factors, including India’s visa-free entry deal with Serbia—considered the gateway to Europe—and a climate of inequality and discrimination in their home country.

However, Mike Jones, executive director of Migrant Watch UK, said the increasing trend needs to be addressed by the British government.

He told The Epoch Times: “It is important that the UK government acts quickly and decisively to nip this developing trend in the bud.

“This means expanding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed with India on illegal immigration in 2021 and press[ing] Delhi to act quickly to document and accept back its citizens.

“The 2021 MOU clearly failed to take account of actions like the intentional destruction of documents which greatly inhibits returns.”

Trade Deal

The figures can be revealed as Britain continues talks with India in the hopes of securing a milestone post-Brexit deal which has been marred in controversy over recent months.

The long-sought-after free trade agreement hit a stumbling block in July when ministers refused to grant more visas to Indian workers.

India has made access to the UK jobs market through internal company moves and access to the services sector for its citizens a key part of its demands from any trade deal.

However, Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch told MPs on a Westminster committee that “an FTA with India will not contain commitments on immigration or provide access to the UK domestic labor market.”

Earlier this month, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said a UK-India trade deal could be agreed by the end of the year. Mr. Hunt said there was “real political momentum” behind a deal, but the next few weeks would be crucial.

Last week, the prime minister was forced to defend his ongoing after claims India was behind the execution of a Sikh activist in Canada.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an advocate of Sikh independence from India, was gunned down outside a cultural centre in British Columbia in June.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was continuing trade talks with India, whose government denied having any role in the murder, but said he remained in “close touch” with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

A senior Canadian diplomat has since been expelled by India, which accused Canada of interfering in its internal affairs.

Statistics show that more than 11,500 Indians applied for asylum worldwide last year with the UK one of the top five countries where Indian nationals sought protection.

The others include the United States, Canada, Cyprus, and Austria.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hand with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak upon his arrival at Bharat Mandapam convention center for the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, on Sept. 9, 2023. Evan Vucci/Pool via Reuters

Inequality

Mr. Jones said an increasing wealth inequality and discrimination in India was pushing nationals to leave the country.

He told The Epoch Times: “Indian irregular migrants usually fly to Serbia from Delhi, where Indians don’t need a visa for short visits, before entering the EU illegally and travelling through Central Europe.

“After all, India is now one of the most unequal countries for both income and wealth inequality—and has shown the most rapid increases in inequality. “

Indian immigrants now overtake Albanians as the largest nationality group arriving illegally in Britain by crossing the Channel in dinghies.

According to the Home Office’s latest Illegal Migration Act tables, just 143 Albanians crossed the English Channel in the third quarter of this year so far, down from 257 the previous quarter.

Last year, a record 12,301 Albanians reached the UK on small boats, representing a quarter of the total of 45,755.

The drop is believed to be, in part, a result of Britain’s new agreement with the Balkans country on returning convicted Albanian offenders from UK prisons, which The Epoch Times revealed in May that numbers had doubled almost four years.

Official Home Office figures show that in 2019, no Indian nationals were recorded arriving in the UK via small boats.

From January to June this year, 867 were recorded within six months—an increase of over 800 percent within four years.

Mr. Sunak has made stopping the boats crossing the English Channel one of his top five priorities ahead of a likely general election next year.

Since he entered 10 Downing Street, provisional figures suggest at least 31,000 asylum seekers have crossed the Channel, while almost 24,000 have arrived in 2023.