Category: News

21 April 2025: Guardian (thank you once more Diane Taylor) Ten assaults a day on asylum seekers in Home Office care, figures reveal

Exclusive: There were 380 safeguarding referrals of victims of hate crimes from January 2023 to August 2024

The Home Office is recording an average of 10 assaults a day on asylum seekers in its care, according to internal government data, amid harsh government rhetoric on those crossing the Channel.

Continue reading “Ten assaults a day on asylum seekers in Home Office care, figures reveal”

13 April 2025: Guardian: Trafficking victims rejecting UK government support because they fear being deported

Nearly 6,000 victims of modern slavery chose not to be referred for help last year, new data shows

Thousands of trafficking victims have rejected the government’s support, many due to fear of the authorities or of being deported, lawyers have said.

Nearly 6,000 trafficking victims rejected support from the government’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for victims of modern slavery last year, according to data based on research from the British Institute for International and Comparative Law and the Human Trafficking Foundation at the University of Oxford. Researchers found a range of reasons for this among respondents, including fear of traffickers, receiving support elsewhere, wanting to put things of being trafficked behind them and being reluctant to engage with UK authorities.

There were more than 19,000 NRM referrals last year. The number of people referred as victims to the NRM but refused at the initial stage has shot up 290% in two years, from 12% in 2022 to 47% in 2024, according to research from the organisation After Exploitation. Separate research from that group found that people in only 133 of 51,193 modern slavery cases reported to the Home Office between January 2021 and May 2024 had applied for compensation as victims.

Continue reading “Trafficking victims fear being deported”

7 April 2025: Guardian: People held at UK asylum centre sue government for human rights breach

Asylum seekers detained at Manston in Kent say they were kept in unsanitary tents during infectious disease outbreak

At least 250 people who were detained at Manston asylum centre during a period when it was dangerously overcrowded and grappling with outbreaks of infectious diseases are suing the government for unlawful detention and other breaches of their rights.

They include a woman who had a miscarriage, a child whose age was recorded as five years older than he was, classifying him as an adult, and a teenager who was a victim of torture and trafficking.

Continue reading “People held at UK asylum centre sue government for human rights breach”

2 April 2025: Migrants Organise: Threadbare: The Quality of Legal Aid

Report Summary:

This report investigates and analyses observations of a decline in ‘good-quality’, reliable legal aid services for people who are navigating the UK’s immigration and asylum systems – that is, in the quality of immigration legal aid provision. The decline in the number and capacity of legal aid providers is well documented, but the impact of this – as well as of other immigration and legal aid policy and legislative changes – on the quality of service
available to individuals in recent years has not been so well explored.

Authors of this report:

Haringey Migrant Support Centre (HMSC); Migrants Organise ; The No Accommodation Network (NACCOM) ; Refugee Action ; South London Refugee Association (SLRA)

Read more: https://www.migrantsorganise.org/app/uploads/2025/04/Threadbare-Quality-of-Immigration-Legal-Aid-2025.pdf

Update 20 March 2025: Inspection report published: An inspection of the Home Office’s management of fee waiver applications (August 2024 – November 2024)

This inspection examined the Home Office’s management of fee waiver applications for certain types of immigration and citizenship applications.

The ability to apply for a fee waiver is an important safeguard for those people who are seeking to make a human rights-based application to enter or remain in the UK, and for children seeking to register as a British Citizen, but who are unable to afford the fees. I was already aware of concerns about the scale of the Home Office fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and stakeholders drew my attention to additional costs, such as solicitors’ fees and biometric enrolment, which have meant that many applicants have incurred large debts and that their lives, including their health and wellbeing, have been adversely impacted.   

This inspection was conducted against that backdrop. It focused on the resourcing of the three Home Office teams responsible for handling fee waiver applications; on training, workflow, and the prioritisation of fee waiver casework; and on the quality, timeliness and consistency of decision making, including the quality assurance of decisions. 

The ICIBI last looked at fee waivers in 2019, since when the ‘test’ the Home Office applies to a fee waiver application has changed from whether the applicant is or would become destitute to whether they can afford to pay the required amounts. This inspection therefore looked at the guidance available to caseworkers when determining ‘affordability’ to see if was clear and also examined whether ‘affordability’ was being assessed consistently.

Inspectors found problems with both the guidance and practice, and my report, which was sent to the Home Secretary on 21 January 2025, contains eight recommendations covering: better workforce planning; regular sharing of information and best practice; more robust quality assurance; more clearly defined management responsibilities and expectations; a review of data retention practices; ensuring significant changes to fee waiver policies and practice are compliant with the Home Office’s Public Sector Equality Duty; the introduction of Service Level Agreements for the processing of fee waiver applications; and development of an engagement strategy for external stakeholders. 

Continue reading “Recent updates from ICIBI”

15 March 2025: Guardian: Exploited, recognised as a slavery victim, now facing deportation: one seafarer’s UK ordeal

After years of helping Scottish criminal investigations and despite fearing for his life in India, Vishal Sharma’s asylum claim has been rejected

[…] Now, after years of helping the authorities in Scotland, Sharma is facing deportation back to India, where he fears his life is in danger. Word got back to his agents in Mumbai that he had spoken to the police, he claims. His father was assaulted by the agents, he says, and he has received death threats. He has suffered bouts of depression. […]

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/15/slavery-victim-vishal-sharma-uk-scottish-authorities-india-asylum-claim

7 March 2025: IPPR: Revealed: Nearly half of UK children with parents born abroad are in poverty

• New analysis finds 46 per cent of children in families with non-UK born parents live in poverty
• “I can’t buy clothes for my children, I can’t buy them shoes, I can’t buy them a single toy, I can’t buy them snacks”
• Government can’t tackle child poverty without addressing key issues in the migration system, says IPPR

Hundreds of thousands of children in the UK from migrant families are affected by poverty and are being held back in life, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Continue reading “Nearly half of UK children with parents born abroad are in poverty”

17 February 2025: Appointment of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration

The Home Affairs Select Committee has interviewed the Government’s choice for Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. Full information is available at the link below, but here is the ‘Conclusion’ of HASC:

Conclusion

12. Mr Tuckett demonstrated significant experience of senior leadership in the public sector. We agree with the advisory assessment panel that Mr Tuckett meets the criteria for the position of Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

13. That said, Mr Tuckett resides in Finland, and told us he travels to the UK for work as required. To operate effectively we believe that the ICIBI needs to spend a significant proportion of their time in London, or conducting inspections across the UK. We are also concerned about the reputational risk this creates. Mr Tuckett said he would be willing to work in London five days a week if necessary. If appointed, it will be for Mr Tuckett to decide on his precise working patterns, but we would expect the majority of his working time to be spent in London, or on inspections.

14. In addition, Mr Tuckett repeatedly highlighted his intention to work collaboratively with the Home Office, but was less reflective about how he would challenge Ministers and senior officials when required. In the previous Parliament there were difficulties in the relationship between the Home Office and ICIBI—particularly when it came to the publication of reports submitted by the ICIBI. It will be essential, if Mr Tuckett is appointed as ICIBI, that he demonstrates his independence and ability to challenge the Home Office—both privately and publicly—when necessary. Mr Tuckett may also wish to reflect more on the public facing aspects of the role of the ICIBI, in improving levels of public trust.

Continue reading “Appointment of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration – John Tuckett”

11 February 2025: Labour Government: change to Home Office policy

Read more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/good-character-nationality-policy-guidance

Continue reading “Citizenship to be denied”

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

ILPA Briefing on Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Second Reading in the House of Commons

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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).

Continue reading “Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2024-5”

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. 

Continue reading “I volunteer a lot but not having status is affecting me”

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.

Continue reading “Asylum accommodation – call for evidence”

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.     

Continue reading “ICIBI report: modern slavery decision-making”

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.”

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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/

Continue reading “UK charity declares ‘refugee homelessness emergency’ as numbers hit record high”