UK Considers Expanding “Safe” Country List to Include Turkey, Egypt, and Iraq

LONDON – The UK government is considering expanding its list of “safe” countries to include Turkey, Egypt, and Iraq, which could allow migrants arriving illegally from these nations to be deported immediately.
These nationalities represent a significant portion of the nearly 4,000 migrants who crossed the English Channel by the end of August. The expansion would join the existing safe list, which currently includes the EU, Switzerland, and Albania. Officials hope the measure would speed up the rejection of asylum claims and facilitate repatriation.
The potential move comes ahead of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legality of the government’s Rwanda deportation scheme, delayed after a 2022 European Court of Human Rights block. If approved, deportations to Rwanda could begin in January; if struck down, the UK could face renewed debates about leaving the ECHR.
Migration data for the first eight months of 2025 shows Turkey accounted for 2,121 Channel arrivals, Egypt 679, and Iraq 1,774. Turkey and Egypt are reportedly being actively considered for safe status, while Iraq’s inclusion remains complicated due to ongoing sectarian violence, particularly affecting Kurdish asylum seekers. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick recently met with the foreign secretary of the Kurdish regional government to discuss the issue.
Expanding the safe country list could reduce the need for controversial measures like relocating migrants to Rwanda, allowing deportations directly to their home countries. However, refugee advocacy groups have criticized the approach. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, told the Telegraph: “The government should be focusing on operating an orderly, humane and fair asylum system, treating people with humanity and dignity, as well as expanding safe routes to the UK.”