Children’s watchdog to look into young asylum seekers’ treatment at Manston – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2024 in asylum, children, government departments, human rights, immigration, news by sally

‘The children’s commissioner for England is due to visit Manston, the Home Office centre in Kent where small boat arrivals are processed, after concerns were raised about the treatment of children there, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 7th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Civil servants obliged to carry out Tory Rwanda deportations, court rules – The Guardian

‘Guidance drawn up by Conservative ministers which told civil servants to ignore Strasbourg rulings and remove asylum seekers to Rwanda is lawful, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 5th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Robert Colvin and Elizabeth Forster: Rolling Judicial Reviews: A New Era of Court Monitoring in Complex Cases? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 1st, 2024 in asylum, children, judicial review, local government, news, statutory duty by sally

‘On 5 June 2024, the Administrative Court gave its final word on relief in the (relatively) long running ECPAT UK judicial review (see R (ECPAT UK) v Kent County Council [2024] EWHC 1353 (Admin)). The case centred on Kent County Council’s (“KCC”) failure to meet its statutory duty to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (“UAS children”) arriving at its coast and the Home Secretary’s systematic, routine and (ultimately) unlawful use of hotels to accommodate them outside of the care system. While the Court’s findings of illegality on the part of both defendants were uncontroversial – indeed KCC conceded it was acting (owing to a purported lack of resource) illegally (see R (ECPAT UK) v Kent CC, SSHD [2023] EWHC 1953 (Admin), para 161) – it was the Court’s willingness to extend its usual role and monitor the defendants’ compliance with its ruling which makes this case unique.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st July 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Thousands of cleared asylum claims to be returned to Home Office after errors – The Guardian

Posted June 24th, 2024 in asylum, government departments, immigration, news, statistics by sally

‘Thousands of asylum cases that Rishi Sunak claimed had been cleared are on course to be returned to the Home Office because of soaring appeals blamed on “rushed” decisions and processing errors.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge rejects housing claim brought by refugee against council and Home Secretary – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Sudanese refugee has failed in a High Court case brought against the London Borough of Haringey over whether he should have been found accommodation and against the Home Office over how it gives notice of the cessation of their asylum support.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Laws and practices on asylum must resist politics of fear and exclusion – EIN Blog

Posted June 20th, 2024 in asylum, human rights, international law, news, refugees by sally

‘Across the world many countries and communities are providing courageous examples of welcoming refugees, showing how the right to seek asylum can be guaranteed and implemented in ways that empower refugees and enable them to contribute fully to their host communities.’

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EIN Blog, 19th June 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Joe Tomlinson: Why Has There Been a 264% Increase in Asylum Appeals? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘If an application for asylum is refused, the applicant can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. The latest tribunal statistics show a sharp increase in the number of asylum appeals lodged in the tribunal.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 19th June 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Lawyers take lord chancellor to high court over legal aid fees – The Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2024 in asylum, fees, immigration, legal aid, lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The lord chancellor is being taken to the high court over claims that legal aid fees are so low they are preventing lawyers from providing representation for thousands of people who are eligible for it.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office’s failure to collect and monitor data on asylum accommodation for pregnant and new mothers held to be unlawful – Landmark Chambers

‘The High Court’s decision in DXK v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 579 (Admin) is a welcome addition to the growing body of case law concerning the ambit and application of asylum support duties. The Court’s findings on academic claims, standing, systemic challenges, and the public sector equality duty (“PSED”) will be of wider practical application in other public law contexts.’

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Landmark Chambers, 13th May 2024

Source: www.landmarkchambers.co.uk

Next government may face claims for compensation from Rwanda flight detainees – The Guardian

‘The next government could have to make costly payouts to dozens of asylum seekers detained for deportation to Rwanda, even if the Rwanda deal falls apart after the general election.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Interim relief in age assessment cases – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal recently considered the correct approach to interim relief in age assessment cases. Joshua Swirsky analyses the ruling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Non-binary Saudi influencer denied asylum in UK because officials ‘don’t believe they are really LGBT+’ – The Independent

Posted June 10th, 2024 in asylum, equality, harassment, homosexuality, immigration, news, Saudi Arabia by sally

‘A non-binary social media influencer fleeing persecution in Saudi Arabia has been denied asylum in the UK because officials allegedly don’t believe they are really LGBT+.’

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The Independent, 9th June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Asylum seekers report widespread abuse in Home Office accommodation – The Guardian

‘Hundreds of complaints about ill treatment from staff looking after asylum seekers in hotels and other accommodation have been lodged with the Home Office, a Guardian investigation has found.’

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court dismisses judicial review against council after finding Bibby Stockholm barge lies outside area subject to planning control – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 24th, 2024 in asylum, housing, immigration, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The High Court has dismissed a judicial review claim brought by a local resident of Portland, who contended that the area of the seabed above which the Bibby Stockholm barge is moored forms part of the “land” that is subject to planning control under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lift-off for the Safety of Rwanda Act? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 22nd, 2024 in asylum, bills, deportation, government departments, human rights, news, Rwanda by sally

‘On 25 April, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 received royal assent and passed into law. This is the latest development relating to the government’s policy to stop small boat crossings via the implementation of a Rwanda asylum seeker removals scheme. After rounds of parliamentary ping-pong between the Commons and Lords, the government was able to push through the legislation. The final version of the act does not include any of the amendments passed by the Lords, such as a carve-out exemption to prevent removal to Rwanda of people who served with or for the British Armed Forces, such as Afghan translators.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st May 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rwanda plan expanded to include failed asylum seekers – BBC News

‘Failed asylum seekers could be sent to Rwanda following an expansion of deportation plans from the Home Office.’

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BBC News, 15th May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘We’re not allowed to bring our baby from Ukraine’: Refugees refused after sudden UK rule change – The Independent

‘A Ukrainian refugee couple who fled to the UK have been refused permission for their two-year-old daughter to join them after the government suddenly changed its sponsorship rules, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 12th May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Child refugees using people smugglers to reach family in UK, report warns – The Guardian

‘Child refugees are using people smugglers to cross the Channel in small boats to reunite with parents and other close relatives because delays in government family reunion processes are leaving them stranded in danger, according to a report.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act – Landmark Chambers

Posted May 7th, 2024 in asylum, bills, chambers articles, deportation, immigration, news, Rwanda by sally

‘The evening of 22 April 2024, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill completed its passage through Parliament. The Act received royal assent on 25 April 2024 (“the Rwanda Act”/“the Act”).’

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Landmark Chambers, 30th April 2024

Source: www.landmarkchambers.co.uk

Rwanda scheme legal challenge: Charity preparing action – BBC News

‘One of the UK’s leading organisations helping victims of torture and trafficking is preparing legal action over the government’s Rwanda plan.’

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BBC News, 4th May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk