Afghan former interpreter with British army resettles in UK after legal battle – The Guardian

‘An Afghan former interpreter with the British army has resettled in the UK with his family after a lengthy legal battle with the government, more than two years after being initially approved for relocation.’

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The Guardian, 8th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Special Advocate – Not Waving but Drowning – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 1st, 2023 in advocacy, closed material, delay, immigration, news, reports by sally

’25 June 2023 was the tenth anniversary of section 6 of the Justice and Security Act 2013 (the JSA) coming into force. It was an anniversary that, as far as I know, passed unremarked. Nevertheless it was a remarkable anniversary – though not a cause for celebration. This is because it marked 5 years since the date that Parliament had required a review of the controversial procedures under the Act, involving secret closed hearings – and yet the Government’s response to the recommendations from that review was still awaited. Even now, no Government response has been forthcoming, nearly a year after the long-delayed report was published, despite the urgency attached to some of the recommendations.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 30th October 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Overseas students and workers targeted in illicit UK visa trade – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2023 in education, employment, government departments, immigration, news, visas by tracey

‘UK visa appointments are being booked up by brokers and sold on for hundreds of pounds in an illicit trade targeting overseas workers and students.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Child asylum seekers in UK forced to share hotel rooms with adults – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2023 in asylum, children, government departments, housing, immigration, news, refugees by tracey

‘Child asylum seekers are being forced to share hotel rooms with adults, as the Home Office’s new hotel “maximisation” programme begins doubling the capacity of refugee hotels by putting two strangers in roomsspaces that were previously single occupancy, a charity has warned.’

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The Guardian, 30th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Are Stateless Claimants Disadvantaged Within Asylum Procedures? New Evidence from the UK Context – EIN Blog

Posted October 27th, 2023 in asylum, citizenship, immigration, news, refugees by sally

‘This blog post introduces new research, conducted as part of the #StatelessJourneys project, into the challenges faced by stateless claimants within asylum procedures in the UK context. The study focuses on the experiences of stateless Kurds from Syria in the UK, revealing hurdles related to civil documentation, cultural understanding, and language analysis. These findings emphasize the need for more statelessness-sensitive procedures and policy changes, both in the UK and within other countries of asylum across Europe.’

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EIN Blog, 26th October 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Shamima Begum faces wait for appeal decision in citizenship case – The Independent

‘Shamima Begum will face a wait to find out whether she has won a Court of Appeal bid over the removal of her British citizenship.’

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The Independent, 25th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What’s happening with the Afghan relocation legal challenges? – EIN Blog

Posted October 25th, 2023 in Afghanistan, asylum, government departments, immigration, news, Pakistan, refugees by sally

‘Under legal pressure, the UK government has reversed its policy requiring at-risk Afghans seeking relocation to the UK to first obtain suitable accommodation. This post outlines the background and provides an overview of the current legal challenges afoot.’

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EIN Blog, 24th October 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Procurements and losses suffered by group companies – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge earlier this month lifted an automatic suspension that was preventing the Home Office from entering into contracts worth more than £750m for visa and citizenship application services. Ed Williams and Nico Tilche look at the lessons to be learned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th October 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Government consults on safe and legal routes for refugees – Home Office

‘Local authorities will be consulted on plans to determine an annual cap on the number of refugees resettled in the UK each year, based on the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support people coming to the UK via safe and legal routes, as the government continues work to deliver its plan to stop the boats.’

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Home Office, 20th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Immigration Blog: Illegal Migration Act – An Asylum Apocalypse? – Garden Court Chambers

‘On 20 July 2023, the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (“IMA”) received Royal Assent and so passed into law. Whilst the detail of the Act’s provisions are complex, its message is simple: those entering without permission are not welcome in our home, and will not be allowed to remain. Though technically the Act applies to any person who enters the UK without permission, the clear focus of attention has been on asylum seekers.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 15th September 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Changes To The EU Settlement Scheme: ‘When People’s Vulnerability Is Weaponised’ – Each Other

Posted October 17th, 2023 in brexit, disabled persons, families, immigration, news by sally

‘In October 2019, three years after the Brexit referendum, I received my OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) accreditation and began volunteering as an immigration adviser. Only a few months prior, I had been through my own personal experience of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), applying for and being granted settled status.’

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Each Other, 16th October 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Deaths and abuse in UK immigration detention – my research shows extent of mental health problem – EIN Blog

Posted October 17th, 2023 in deportation, detention, immigration, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘The death of 39-year-old Frank Ospina, a Colombian man in immigration detention in the UK, shocked his family. Ospina was awaiting deportation, and his mental health appeared to deteriorate rapidly. He is thought to have taken his own life in March 2023.’

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EIN Blog, 16th October 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Caring for unaccompanied children – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 10th, 2023 in asylum, children, immigration, local government, news by sally

‘In a sorry adjunct to the debate on the government’s asylum and immigration policies, the recent High Court case of R(ECPAT) v Kent County Council & others [2023] EWHC 1953 (Admin) has provided a concerning insight into the government’s approach to the reception of children into the UK who have no adult to accompany or care for them.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th October 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Dangerous use of force, failure of safeguards and culture of dehumanisation – Brook House Inquiry report finds 19 instances of inhumane or degrading treatment – Garden Court Chambers

‘The BHI Inquiry has exposed the inexcusable and unconscionable dehumanising abuse of vulnerable people held in immigration detention by the Home Office. The Inquiry has found the safeguarding system in detention to be “dysfunctional”, resulting in a failure to protect detained people as intended. Vulnerable people were exposed to the risk of mistreatment and were subjected to actual harm; there were 19 incidents of credible breaches of Article 3 of the ECHR, which prohibits torture, inhuman and degrading treatment within a 5 month period.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 19th September 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

How UK plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda ended up before supreme court – The Guardian

‘The UK government’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda had generated controversy even before the former home secretary Priti Patel signed a deal with the east African country in April last year sealing the deal. Ministers claimed the plan would deter people from making the dangerous journey across the Channel on small boats.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Illegal Migration Bill: Welcomed by Human Traffickers – Mountford Chambers

Posted October 4th, 2023 in bills, chambers articles, immigration, news, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘Organised Crime poses an increasing problem around the world. Endangering the economic well-being of countries, it can pose national security threats and affect vulnerable communities. Anisha Kiri tracks recent developments.’

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Mountford Chambers, 8th September 2023

Source: www.mountfordchambers.com

Suella Braverman is wrong about the UN refugee convention being ‘not fit for purpose’ – here’s why – EIN Blog

Posted October 3rd, 2023 in immigration, news, refugees, treaties, United Nations by sally

‘The UK’s home secretary, Suella Braverman – the minister responsible for setting immigration policy – has said the United Nations refugee convention is not “fit for our modern age” and should be renegotiated.’

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EIN Blog, 2nd October 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Good Character Requirement changes for Naturalisation – EIN Blog

Posted October 2nd, 2023 in criminal records, government departments, immigration, news by sally

‘On the 31st July 2023, the Home Office published new guidance in relation to the good character requirement for Naturalisation applications. This new guidance took immediate effect and was published with the government first giving notice of the changes on the 30th July 2023.’

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EIN Blog, October 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

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