The government of India has expressly rejected a proposal tabulated by the United Kingdom, which suggested that DNA sampling ought to be used as a mechanism for determining the nationalities of undocumented or illegal immigrants residing within the UK. This decision is a clear reflection of India’s stand on maintaining ethical practices and safeguarding privacy in handling immigration issues.
Details of the Memorandum of Understanding
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was proposed between the two countries, according to which, Indian security agencies were expected to verify the origins of illegal immigrants living in the UK without documents. This verification process was stipulated to take no more than 72 days. In cases where the migrants possessed documents, the timeline was further reduced to 15 days.
If the Indian security agencies did not provide any report within the specified time frame, the undocumented migrant would face automatic deportation. However, the Indian authorities decided to put an indefinite halt on this agreement, asserting that the 15-day limit was not feasible.
The Controversial DNA Sampling Proposal
Additionally, the UK put forth the idea of establishing the nationalities of suspected illegal Indian immigrants through DNA sample matching from their relatives residing in India. This was met with strong resistance from the Indian government. They objected to this proposal on ethical grounds, underscoring that it could potentially breach privacy norms.
A Disagreement over Numbers
According to estimates presented by the British government, approximately 1,00,000 Indian nationals are currently overstaying their visa tenures in the UK. This figure, however, has been disputed by India. The Indian authorities argue that the actual number of overstaying Indian immigrants does not exceed 2,000.
In 2016, the UK had suggested that they would entertain discussions regarding a better visa deal, but only under the condition that both nations simultaneously escalate the speed and volume of deporting illegal immigrants back to India.
The Status of Illegal Migrants: A Pressing Issue
The issue of illegal migrants continues to pose serious challenges for many nations, including the UK. The proposed MoU between India and the UK was seen as a strategy to address this issue efficaciously. However, the disagreements over various aspects of the proposal showcase that arriving at a mutually agreeable solution is not straightforward.