Use of x-rays in asylum age assessments “inaccurate” and “unethical”, experts warn – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 21st, 2023 in asylum, children, consent, immigration, medical treatment, news, x-rays by sally

‘Medical experts have criticised the use of x-rays to determine the age of lone migrant children and young people seeking asylum in the UK.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Asylum seekers ‘degraded’ at detention centre: key points from Brook House inquiry – The Guardian

‘Report on immigration removal centre details “crushing” abuse and excessive use of force that has left detainees with PTSD.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge lifts suspension of order quashing deal between Kent and Home Office over unaccompanied asylum seeking children – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has decided not to extend the suspension of an order quashing a deal brokered between the Home Secretary and Kent County Council that capped the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UAS children) the council had to accommodate.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Leeds: Child asylum seekers wrongly classed as adults – report – BBC News

Posted August 31st, 2023 in asylum, children, government departments, hotels, housing, local government, news, reports by tracey

‘Thirty child asylum seekers were wrongly categorised as adults by the Home Office, according to a council report.’

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BBC News, 31st August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘I struggle not knowing what the future holds’ – Asylum backlog reaches record high – BBC News

Posted August 25th, 2023 in asylum, delay, government departments, immigration, news, refugees, statistics by sally

‘The number of people in the UK waiting for a decision on their asylum claims has risen to a record high, latest Home Office figures show.’

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BBC News, 24th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What Is Being Done To Find Unaccompanied Missing Children? – Each Other

Posted August 24th, 2023 in asylum, children, government departments, housing, local government, news by sally

‘In total, more than 400 unaccompanied children have gone missing under while under the care of the Home Office. The government has faced growing concerns from both peers and charities regarding the safety of these children; but what is being done to find them?’

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Each Other, 24th August 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Court of Appeal dismisses appeal over whether hostel room was “suitable accommodation” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 24th, 2023 in asylum, disabled persons, homelessness, housing, local government, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed a woman’s appeal against a decision that a room in a hostel was “suitable” accommodation for her to continue to occupy.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

MQM London member wins in Court of Appeal – EIN Blog

Posted August 18th, 2023 in appeals, asylum, government departments, immigration, news, Pakistan by sally

‘In a difficult case, Elisabeth Laing LJ allowed the appeal of “WAS” against the dismissal of his asylum claim by the Upper Tribunal owing to the fact that UTJ McWilliam “failed properly” to consider the factors relevant to WAS’s commitment to the notorious person of Altaf Hussain (founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement or “MQM”) and the effect on risk to him from the Pakistani authorities applying the historic judgment in HJ (Iran) v SSHD [2010] UKSC 31. The appeal was also allowed on the basis that the UT’s findings were contrary to the FTT’s preserved findings and contrary to the UT’s own conclusions. WAS entered the UK in June 2012 as student. In December 2015 he made an application for further leave to remain (as the spouse of a British citizen) which was refused in 2016. He then made a protection claim in October 2017 on the basis of his actual or perceived political opinion. He said that he was a member of the MQM, an opposition movement in Pakistan. The protection claim was refused in April 2018. The FTT dismissed his appeal in June 2018 and found that he was an active member of MQM in Pakistan for about 3 years from 2009 to 2012 and that his father is an active supporter of MQM. The FTT said that his credibility was damaged by the fact that he had not claimed asylum until October 2017 in circumstances where his political affiliations had not changed.’

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EIN Blog, 17th August 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Bibby Stockholm: Ministers face legal action over barge planning permissions – BBC News

Posted August 10th, 2023 in asylum, housing, local government, news, planning, ships by tracey

‘Ministers are facing legal action from the Mayor of Portland over the Bibby Stockholm migrant accommodation barge.’

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BBC News, 10th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK would be outlier with Russia if it left ECHR, Law Society says – The Guardian

Posted August 10th, 2023 in asylum, human rights, Law Society, news, treaties by tracey

‘The UK would be an international outlier along with Russia and Belarus if it left the European convention on human rights, a leading law body has warned, after a senior minister signalled that the move could be an option to stop small boat crossings.’

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The Guardian, 9th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Refugee and asylum for women – EIN Blog

Posted August 9th, 2023 in asylum, immigration, news, refugees, treaties, women by tracey

‘Women have historically found it more difficult to qualify for refugee status than men. The 1951 Convention relating to the status of a refugee promises protection for refugees following the Second World War and Europe’s inadequate response to those fleeting Nazism. However, not everyone who is fleeing danger or violence qualifies as a refugee under this Convention.’

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EIN Blog, 9th August 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Legal reprieve for asylum seekers ordered to live on Dorset barge – The Guardian

Posted August 8th, 2023 in asylum, health & safety, housing, news, ships by tracey

‘People seeking refuge who were ordered to live on a controversial giant barge have been reprieved after legal challenges claimed the vessel was unsafe and unsuitable for traumatised people.’

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The Guardian, 7th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Taskforce to pursue lawyers who ‘coach’ clients to lie on UK asylum applications – The Guardian

‘Lawyers who “coach” people to lie in their asylum applications will be targeted as part of a new government-led panel tasked with pursuing more prosecutions.’

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The Guardian, 8th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fines to rise sharply for illegal housing or employment of asylum seekers in UK – The Guardian

‘People who allow asylum seekers to work for them or rent their properties in breach of the law will face significantly increased fines from next year, as ministers attempt to reduce “pull factors” for people making small boat crossings.’

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The Guardian. 7th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fugitive guilty of stabbing asylum seeker to death in row over £10 drug debt – The Independent

Posted August 2nd, 2023 in Afghanistan, asylum, drug abuse, extradition, immigration, murder, news, violent disorder by sally

‘A fugitive has been found guilty of stabbing an Afghan asylum seeker to death over a £10 debt nearly six years ago.’

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The Independent, 1st August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office breached statutory duty to ensure provision of adequate accommodation for pregnant asylum seeker and children – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Claimant was a destitute asylum-seeker who was heavily pregnant and the mother of three young children.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 31st July 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Article 31 and inadmissibility under Part 4A Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 – EIN Blog

‘Many practitioners will be aware that the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s (“SSHD”) “Rwanda plan” met with the Court of Appeal’s disapproval recently in a majority decision in AAA (Syria) & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWCA Civ 266 (on appeal from the High Court: AAA v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Rwanda) [2022] EWHC 3230). The Court found that any attempt to remove refugees to Rwanda whose claims the SSHD adjudged to be inadmissible would breach the non-refoulment provisions of Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention (“RC”) and thereby also Article 3 of the 1950 European Convention of Human Rights (“ECHR”).’

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EIN Blog, 31st July 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Watchdog shuts three solicitors firms accused in asylum sting – The Guardian

‘Three law firms in England accused of wrongdoing in dealing with asylum applications have been shut down by the solicitors’ watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 31st July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jury discharged in trial of UK asylum seeker facing manslaughter charges – The Guardian

Posted July 27th, 2023 in asylum, homicide, juries, news by sally

‘The jury in the trial of an asylum seeker accused of manslaughter over the deaths of four people who were in a small boat with him during his journey across the Channel has been discharged.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2023 c. 37 – Illegal Migration Act 2023

2023 c. 35 – Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023

2023 c. 34 – Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023

2023 c. 39 – Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023

2023 c. 36 – Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023

2023 c. 33 – Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk