Status Now 4 All Campaign

This is our call:

We call upon the British and Irish States to act immediately so that all undocumented, destitute and migrant people in the legal process in both the UK and Ireland are granted Status Now, as in *Indefinite Leave to Remain. In this way every human, irrespective of their nationality or citizenship can access healthcare, housing, food and the same sources of income from the State as everyone else

Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2024-5

Updated: 10 February: ILPA Briefing regarding the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2024-5:


Published Friday, 31 January, 2025: Research Briefing: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2024-25

MPs will debate the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill at second reading on Monday 10 February 2025.

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill was introduced in the Commons on 30 January 2025 and is due to have its second reading on 10 February 2025. This page provides a short summary of the bill’s provisions; a full briefing will be published in advance of second reading.

The Labour government had proposed the bill in the King’s Speech of July 2024. It was to contain three elements: modernising the asylum and immigration system, establishing a new Border Security Command within the Home Office, and applying powers usually reserved for terrorism to organised immigration crime (see the King’s Speech 2024:background briefing notes, PDF).

As introduced, the bill is largely focused on law enforcement powers and the Border Security Command. It does not make major changes to the asylum and immigration system, other than to repeal most provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (passed under the Conservative government).

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I volunteer a lot but not having status is affecting me

27 January 2025: Tariq Khan: I volunteer a lot but not having status is affecting me

I had a very decent life back home in Pakistan. Enjoying my career peak running side hustle and enjoying every second at my best. I was an Assistant Director school/ Principal of school in an Education system in Pakistan, but in 2018, a tragic incident hit my life and after doing all my best to resolve the issue I failed because of the tribal system and tribe honour, my life was at risk of being killed by my own family members. I tried all my best to get protection but due to the corrupt police and corrupt system I was refused. When I realised that I’m not any safer anywhere in my country, I made the hardest decision to leave my beloved country just to save my life. I left my country because my life was at risk due to a tragic land dispute in my family. That brutal incident took the lives of my three cousin brothers. I luckily survived two assassinations attempts. I did not leave because I was facing financial difficulties. I left because I wanted to save my life. 

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Asylum accommodation – call for evidence

Home Affairs Sub-committee: deadline 3 February 2025

The Home Office has a duty to provide housing and subsistence to asylum seekers who are awaiting a decision on their claim and are destitute.

Asylum accommodation is primarily delivered by private providers through the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC). Home Office spending on asylum accommodation and support has increased significantly in recent years, from £739 million in 2019-20 to £4.7 billion in 2023-4.

The Home Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into asylum accommodation. The inquiry will focus on how asylum accommodation is currently delivered, how the Home Office has managed the AAS contracts, and what lessons can be learned and applied to delivery of asylum accommodation in the future. The inquiry will also look at the impact that the current approach to delivering asylum accommodation has on local areas, and how the Home Office works with local partners, particularly local authorities.

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ICIBI report: modern slavery decision-making

People with a claim under modern slavery rules for Leave to Remain often have an asylum case because of their situation …

11 December 2024: Inspection report published: An inspection of the Immigration Enforcement Competent Authority (January – June 2024)

This inspection examined the performance of the Immigration Enforcement Competent Authority since its establishment in 2021.

This inspection examined the performance of the Immigration Enforcement Competent Authority (IECA), assessing its practices and processes for making decisions, its approach to assuring the timeliness and quality of those decisions, and its management of safeguarding issues.  

The inspection was initiated by my predecessor, David Neal, and the bulk of the evidence was gathered in January and February 2024. However, it was not possible to conclude the inspection in the usual manner as there was no Independent Chief Inspector in post from 21 February to 3 June 2024. In June, I asked the Home Office for some additional information and updated evidence. My report, including the Key Findings and Recommendations, reflects both the original evidence and this new material.     

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Staying Alive – self-organising for survival

20 November 2024: Seeds for change: Staying Alive – self-organising for survival

This is a strong interview with Loraine, Olivia and Maryam who are all very busy in various groups and their daily lives supporting people and working for change:

https://seedsforchange.podbean.com/e/staying-alive-self-organising-for-survival

We know them through StatusNow4All but that is just a small part of their reaching out. They are amazing people with a lot of insight having come through or still living in the asylum system.

They make some very pertinent comments which you may find helpful.

UK charity declares ‘refugee homelessness emergency’ as numbers hit record high

19 Nov 2024: NACCCOM: Annual data briefing 2023-2024

Bridget Young, Director of NACCOM, said;

“Our research shows that thousands of people each year are needlessly pushed into destitution and homelessness as they go through the asylum and immigration system. No one should have to experience trauma, hardship and injustice simply because of their immigration status, but this is the reality for so many.  

 “Every member of our communities should be able to thrive, not just survive, but that’s impossible when you don’t have a safe or stable home, or enough to eat. Urgent change is needed to ensure that the asylum and immigration system doesn’t keep driving up levels of destitution and homelessness, and fuelling injustice in refugee and migrant communities.”


NACCOM’s latest Annual Survey data reveals that destitution and homelessness in migrant and refugee communities are on the rise in the UK, with thousands of people in the asylum and wider immigration system routinely experiencing trauma and hardship.

Our annual data briefing, Understanding destitution and homelessness in the asylum and immigration system, paints a comprehensive – and shocking – picture of the extent, impact and root causes of migrant destitution and homelessness in 2023/2024, and shines a spotlight on the increasing complexity of service provision in the sector, as voluntary organisations adapt to a turbulent policy landscape.

A hostile and failing asylum and immigration system, coupled with a chronic lack of social and affordable housing, and a general increase in demand for emergency homelessness assistance, are driving up levels of destitution and homelessness in migrant communities. NACCOM’s inspiring and dedicated frontline members continue to provide a vital safety net, but local capacity often can’t meet soaring demand, and unsustainable pressure is being placed on the voluntary sector – a bold programme of action is needed. 

The briefing also lays out a set of recommendations for policy reform to ensure that the asylum and immigration system doesn’t actively drive up levels of destitution and homelessness, as it is currently doing.

Read more here: https://naccom.org.uk/launching-our-new-data-briefing-2024-understanding-destitution-and-homelessness-in-the-asylum-and-immigration-system/

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Immigration crackdown sees British modern slavery victims imprisoned

19 Nov 2024: Open Democracy: Immigration crackdown sees British modern slavery victims imprisoned

Revealed: Former government’s anti-immigration laws have had horrifying consequences for modern slavery victims

In October 2022, the Home Office made what could have been viewed as a small change to its ministerial responsibilities. It stripped the safeguarding minister of the modern slavery brief, which it moved into the portfolio of the illegal immigration and asylum minister.

The change followed months of briefings from the then Conservative government that dangerous criminals, including terrorists and rapists, were “gaming” the modern slavery system by pretending they were victims of exploitation to avoid deportation.

Two years on, openDemocracy has analysed government data and spoken to academics and experts working to support modern slavery victims. We have uncovered that the former government’s ministerial change and accompanying legislation that equated modern slavery to migration has had two major impacts – with horrifying consequences for vulnerable victims.

Read more here: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/british-modern-slavery-victims-prison-immigration-crackdown-small-boats

Memorandum of Understanding between the ICIBI and the Chief Inspector of Prisons

19 November 2024: Memorandum of Understanding between the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons

This is good news – the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and HP Chief Inspector of Prisons have previously worked on inquiries, for example in relation to Penally and Napier camps, but this new document make transparent the ways in which they intend to collaborate –

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/memorandum-of-understanding-between-the-the-independent-chief-inspector-of-borders-and-immigration-and-his-majestys-chief-inspector-of-prisons

Union launches charter to protect care workers on sponsored UK visas

4 November 2024: Guardian: Union launches charter to protect care workers on sponsored UK visas

Salford council is first signatory to Unison agreement intended to prevent exploitation of migrant workers

Care workers from countries such as India, Nigeria and the Philippines who faced losing their immigration status in the UK if they left their employers have been promised new protections by a landmark, grassroots deal.

The migrant care workers charter is an agreement designed by care workers and the trade union Unison to prevent the exploitation of people on sponsored visas – and Salford council is the first in the country to sign up to it.

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An inspection of contingency asylum accommodation (Nov 2023 – June 2024)

24 October 2024: Inspection report published: An inspection of contingency asylum accommodation (November 2023 – June 2024)

The report by David Bolt, Independent Chief Inspector of Borders & Immigration – ICIBI and his team on contingency asylum accommodation has been released.

See the Chief Inspector’s comments here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/inspection-report-published-an-inspection-of-contingency-asylum-accommodation-november-2023-june-2024

and the report, plus Home Office response here:

Migrant took his own life after multiple failings at UK detention centre

16 October 2024: BBC: Migrant took own life after ‘multiple failings’ at UK detention centre

An inquest jury has found “multiple failings” and “missed opportunities” at an immigration detention centre contributed to a Colombian man taking his own life in 2023.

The coroner examining the death of Frank Ospina said he had been let down by the state “in numerous ways” which were “utterly regretful”.

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Calls for investigation of Uber Eats and Deliveroo after raid on Bristol caravan camp

Saturday 12 October 2024: Guardian: Calls for investigation of Uber Eats and Deliveroo after raid on Bristol caravan camp

Migrant workers accuse Home Office of targeting the victims of labour exploitation rather than companies profiting from them

Migrant workers living in a caravan encampment raided by immigration enforcement officers have accused the Home Office of targeting the victims of labour exploitation rather than companies profiting from the hidden economy.

Continue reading “Calls for investigation of Uber Eats and Deliveroo after raid on Bristol caravan camp”