Category: News

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”

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

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

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:

• An inspection of contingency asylum accommodation November 2023 – June 2024
• The Home Office responses to the Chief Inspector’s reports

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”.

Continue reading “Migrant took his own life after multiple failings at UK detention centre”

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”

1 October 2024: Rethinking Security: Alternative Security Review

The Alternative Security Review was undertaken to create public dialogue in the UK on human and ecological security. It aims to show that there are other ways of creating security strategies, centring human and ecological security in policymaking.

Public engagement has been an important part of the Alternative Security Review. As well as the formal research activities that sought the opinions of ordinary people, such as the surveys and photovoice research, we ran a several informal projects as part of the ASR.

In the early stages of the project, we convened a series of Roundtable Discussions with Civil Society to explore the state of human security issues in the UK. What do groups working on or experiencing insecurity think about the government’s attitude towards and policy on human security? Where are the links with militarised ‘national security’? Does ‘national security’ harm the human security of certain groups within the UK? And what about climate breakdown?

• Read the full report
• Read the executive summary

Read more on the different components of the project here, and read the Executive and Full Reports: https://rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/alternative-security-review/