Asylum accommodation to be excluded from social housing landlords crackdown – The Guardian

‘Accommodation used to house tens of thousands of asylum seekers, often the worst in the UK when it comes to damp and mould, will be excluded from a crackdown on landlords managing social housing, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 15th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK government admits Rwanda has ‘issues with its human rights record’ – The Guardian

Posted January 12th, 2024 in asylum, bills, deportation, government departments, human rights, immigration, news, Rwanda by sally

‘The government has admitted that Rwanda still has “issues with its human rights record” despite claims by Rishi Sunak that it is a safe country.’

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The Guardian, 11th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal examines procedural unfairness in EEA family permit case and holds FTT acted unfairly on remittances – EIN Blog

Posted January 10th, 2024 in appeals, families, government departments, immigration, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has held that the FTT had acted unfairly during the hearing of an appeal against the SSHD’s refusal of Dahir Elmi Abdi, Ubah Elmi Abdi and Mahrez Sharif Hassan’s applications for EEA family permits by failing to give them and their brother Ashkir Elmi Abdi, an EEA national on whom they claimed to be financially dependent, an opportunity to address the point on which it dismissed their appeal, i.e. the remittances demonstrating dependence did not come from him, based on a calculation showing that his declared income in the UK could not have supported the amounts he claimed to have sent, and therefore they were not financially dependent on him.’

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EIN Blog, 10th January 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

How to lift the No Recourse to Public Funds condition – EIN Blog

‘The “No Recourse to Public Funds” Condition is imposed on grant of limited leave to remain which in effect means that the person holding that leave cannot obtain public funds. However, it is possible to ask the Home Office to lift the condition and there are special criteria to be met.’

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EIN Blog, 2nd January 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Cleverly says UK asylum backlog cleared as almost 100,000 wait for decision – The Guardian

Posted January 3rd, 2024 in asylum, delay, government departments, immigration, news, statistics by sally

‘Almost 100,000 people seeking asylum in the UK are waiting for a decision amid growing claims that ministers have massaged official figures to try to show that they have cut the backlog of cases.’

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The Guardian, 2nd January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court allows judicial review against council over failure to support child trafficking victim – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has ruled that the London Borough of Barnet failed to meet its duties towards a victim of child trafficking after he received no specialist support from either the council or the Home Office for several years.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Legal Implications of Doubling the Family Visa Income Requirement – EIN Blog

‘As many readers will be aware, part of the Home Secretary’s recently announced “five-point plan” on immigration included a significant increase to the minimum income threshold for family visas under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.’

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EIN Blog, 12th December 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

‘Everything is in jeopardy’: how new UK visa rules are tearing families apart – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2023 in families, immigration, news, regulations, remuneration, visas by michael

‘Rebecca, 28, a full-time PhD student in biosciences from Liverpool, and her partner, an Australian national working in higher education, are among thousands of couples facing separation and financial uncertainty because of the government’s decision to overhaul immigration rules. Among those affected will be skilled workers, international students, health and care workers from overseas and their family members.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can the new Rwanda bill work and what could stop it? – BBC News

Posted December 7th, 2023 in asylum, bills, human rights, immigration, international law, news, Rwanda, Supreme Court, treaties by michael

‘Expert lawyers who have been involved in the Rwanda case – or supported the challenge to the policy – have described new legislation as potentially setting up a politically explosive fight with both the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sunak’s bill aims to block UK human rights law to save Rwanda scheme – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2023 in asylum, bills, human rights, immigration, international law, news, Rwanda, Supreme Court, treaties by michael

‘An emergency bill published on Wednesday will assert that ministers have the power to ignore judgments that come from Strasbourg while stopping short of leaving or “disapplying” the European convention on human rights.’

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The Guardian, 6th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal finds ‘flaws at all levels’ in ECAA case – EIN Blog

Posted December 6th, 2023 in appeals, immigration, judicial review, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has held that by refusing Mr Ozmen—a Turkish national—leave to remain in the UK as a businessperson pursuant to the European Community Association Agreement (or “ECAA”) between the UK and Turkey, the first instance decision-maker, the administrative reviewer and even the judge conducting a judicial review had all fallen into error in rejecting Mr Ozmen’s proposal on the basis of a superficial search resulting in wrong factual information about the viability of one potential customer. That flaw had undermined the decision-making at all levels. It was also quite irrational to reject the entire application on the basis of an analysis of evidence about the viability of one customer where the overall scheme of the evidence about four potential customers showed that there was broad demand for Mr Ozmen’s services. Mr Ozmen appealed against the dismissal of his claim for judicial review of the SSHD’s refusal to grant him leave to remain in the UK as a businessperson under the ECAA. He had arrived in the UK having been granted leave to enter as a short-term student in December 2019 and in May 2020, he applied for leave to remain here as a business person. His plan was to work as a mobile barber in and around the town of Glossop (Derbyshire) and he had submitted a detailed proposal with his application. On 15 March 2021, his application was refused and his administrative review application was unsuccessful on 7 February 2022 and he was advised to leave the country.’

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EIN Blog, 5th December 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Migrant fruit picker who ‘struggled to buy food after being underpaid by British farm’ sues employers – The Independent

‘A migrant fruit picker is suing a British farm in a landmark employment tribunal over claims she was underpaid, worked six-day weeks and had to buy her own protective equipment.’

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The Independent, 3rd December 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Haulage boss jailed seven years for his role in people-smuggling network linked to Essex lorry deaths – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A haulage boss has been jailed today for his involvement in a people-smuggling network linked to the tragic deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and children in Essex.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 30th November 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

UK anti-strike rules may breach international law, MPs and peers warn – The Guardian

‘Workers in some public sector jobs will be completely prevented from striking under restrictive rules that may breach international law, parliament’s watchdog on human rights has said.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal: ‘Very significant obstacles to integration’ is an objective test – EIN Blog

Posted November 27th, 2023 in appeals, asylum, deportation, government departments, immigration, news, violence by sally

‘NC v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWCA Civ 1379 (22 November 2023). The Court of Appeal has held that the First-tier Tribunal had erred in its application of the “very significant obstacles to integration” test set out in paragraph 276ADE(1)(vi) of the Immigration Rules, as then in force, by failing to turn its attention to any evidence beyond an individual’s subjective fear of violence if they were returned to their home country. On proper analysis, the FTT should have focused on the reality of the individual’s daily life if returned; specifically, what steps she could reasonable take to avoid or mitigate her fear, such as by seeking state protection or asking for help from relatives. The appellant, “NC”, maintained that there was no error of law in the FTT’s determination, that the Upper Tribunal was itself in error in concluding that there was and that the FTT’s determination in her favour should stand. However, the SSHD maintained that the Upper Tribunal was correct to find that the FTT had made an error of law and to set aside the FTT’s determination. The focus of the appeal was on the meaning of “very significant obstacles to … integration” as those words appeared in paragraph 276ADE(1)(vi) at the material time. The appellant “NC” appealed against the Upper Tribunal’s determination that the FTT had made an error of law when it concluded that she should not be returned to St Kitts and Nevis. NC came to the UK in March 2016, aged 28. She claimed asylum in October 2016.’

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EIN Blog, 27th November 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

The Supreme Court’s Rwanda Judgment: What Now for the Government? – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘All eyes were on the Supreme Court last Wednesday when it handed down its ruling on the lawfulness of the government’s much-criticised Rwanda scheme. The judgment featured a number of important issues (including issues relating to retained EU law) but the key question for the Court was simple: would sending individuals making asylum claims in the UK to Rwanda – to make asylum claims there instead – subject them to a real risk of ill-treatment? The Supreme Court’s answer was that it would. The government’s policy was therefore unlawful.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 22nd November 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Theodore Konstadinides: Reassessing the UK’s Rwanda Asylum Policy: Tinkering with International Law and the Constitution – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘On 15 November, the Supreme Court issued its much-awaited judgment in the case of AAA and others v the Home Secretary, commonly referred to as the Rwanda asylum policy case. The decision came notably quickly, almost a month after the case was heard, indicating the Court’s responsiveness to the urgency and the wider public interest surrounding the case. Despite the swift turnaround, the judgment was meticulously formulated, reflecting the serious implications of the case.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st November 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Adam Tucker: The Rwanda Policy, Legal Fiction(s), and Parliament’s Legislative Authority – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Last week the Supreme Court (in R (AAA) v Home Secretary) found the UK government’s policy to send asylum applicants to Rwanda unlawful on the grounds that “removal … to Rwanda would expose them to a real risk of ill-treatment by reason of refoulement” [149]. In response, the Prime Minister announced that the government intends to “take the extraordinary step of introducing emergency legislation” which “will enable Parliament to confirm that… Rwanda is safe”.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd November 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Home Office publishes new policy instruction on lifting NRPF conditions for those on student leave following concession in test case – Garden Court Chambers

‘Following judicial review proceedings brought by a destitute woman and her one-year-old daughter who were denied access to public funds, the Home Office has published a new policy instruction setting out the circumstances in which no recourse to public funds (‘NRPF’) conditions will be lifted for those on student leave.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 10th October 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Fixer for small-boat people smugglers jailed for seven and a half years – The Independent

‘An Albanian woman who acted as a fixer for people smugglers arranging small boat crossings to the UK has been jailed for seven and a half years, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.’

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The Independent, 19th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk