Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 12 September 2025
Two major developments this week have reshaped UK immigration policy’s future direction. Parliament demonstrated unprecedented cross-party opposition to extending settlement pathways from five to ten years, with MPs unanimously condemning retrospective changes for those already on their settlement journey.
The parliamentary debate on settlement pathways, revealed widespread cross-party concern about the Government’s proposed extension of the indefinite leave to remain qualifying period from five to ten years. particularly the potential for retrospective application to individuals already partway through their settlement journey.
The debate demonstrated remarkable parliamentary unity on several key points. MPs from across the political spectrum emphasised the unfairness of changing settlement requirements for those who had already made life-altering decisions based on established five-year pathways. Minister Alex Norris confirmed that a consultation will proceed but provided no firm timeline, acknowledging the uncertainty this creates for affected individuals whilst emphasising the importance of proper stakeholder engagement before finalising policy changes.
Particular attention was paid to the Hong Kong BNO visa route, with widespread recognition of its humanitarian nature and the unique obligations arising from historical connections. The debate highlighted concerns about transnational repression risks and the potential propaganda value that rule changes might provide to Beijing. Whilst the Minister acknowledged the “bespoke” nature of the BNO route, he stopped short of providing definitive exemptions from proposed changes, instead directing stakeholders to participate in the forthcoming consultation process.
Concurrently, the Government has announced a hardening of enforcement measures through a new Five Eyes agreement targeting countries that refuse to accept returns of their nationals. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that non-cooperative nations could face visa restrictions, representing a significant shift towards using diplomatic leverage to compel compliance with returns processes. This approach builds on reported removals of over 35,000 individuals in the Government’s first year and signals a broader strategy extending beyond border enforcement.
The returns policy announcement also revealed enhanced focus on disrupting the digital infrastructure supporting irregular migration. The National Crime Agency has removed over 23,000 posts promoting organised immigration crime since 2021, with activity increasing by 40% in the past year alone. This operational approach, combined with diplomatic pressure mechanisms, suggests the Government is developing a comprehensive framework that may influence how future policy consultations, including those on settlement pathways, balance humanitarian considerations against enforcement priorities.
The Home Secretary’s announcement of strengthened enforcement measures through the Five Eyes agreement signals an inevitable surge in unlawful removal cases as diplomatic pressure intensifies returns processes. With countries facing visa restrictions for non-cooperation and the Government’s stated commitment to removing those without legal status, immigration practitioners must prepare for a substantial increase in judicial review challenges arising from hasty or procedurally flawed removal decisions. The convergence of tightened immigration rules, narrowed appeal rights, and accelerated enforcement timelines creates a perfect storm where judicial review becomes the primary safeguard against unlawful state action.
The combination of enhanced enforcement and settlement pathway evaluations suggests a policy environment with potentially reduced certainty, making thorough case management and clear client communication important.
HJT’s annual Judicial Review Conference is an invaluable resource for practitioners seeking to effectively navigate the complexities of the current legal environment.
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As Judicial Review becomes both more streamlined and restrictive under the new framework, missing these crucial updates could prove costly when challenging the anticipated wave of unlawful removal decisions that the Government’s hardened enforcement approach is likely to generate.
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For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, SEE BELOW
Immigration News
What is the government doing to tackle illegal immigration? – UKVI News
For the first time, small boat migrants arriving in the UK face being detained and returned to France. The message to the criminal people-smugglers is clear: we will end your vile trade. For full report, click here
UK could cut visas for countries that refuse to accept returns – UKVI News
The UK could cut the number of visas granted to countries that delay or refuse returns of individuals with no right to remain in the UK. In her first major engagement in post, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reached an agreement with her counterparts from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand collectively known as the Five Eyes, to help boost the return of individuals who have no legal basis to remain in any of the partner countries. For full report, click here
Shabana Mahmood to host Five Eyes meeting on people-smuggling – The Guardian
Shabana Mahmood, the new home secretary, will host a meeting of the Five Eyes security alliance to discuss how to stop people-smuggling, as the number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the channel topped 30,000 in record time on Sunday. For full report, click here
Nigel Farage says Reform UK will not make pact with Boris Johnson – The Guardian
Nigel Farage has said a pact between Reform and Boris Johnson would never work, after the Conservative defector Nadine Dorries called for the right to unite. For full report, click here
Shabana Mahmood set to move asylum seekers from hotels to barracks – The Guardian
Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil plans to move asylum seekers from hotels into military barracks as Labour seeks to harden its immigration policy amid rising numbers of crossings in the channel. The new home secretary is reportedly set to announce the use of Ministry of Defence sites to house people after a wave of protests outside migrant accommodation over the summer. For full report, click here
UK couple may have to evict Ukrainian refugees owing to planning rules – The Guardian
A couple who the Prime Minister thanked for housing Ukrainian refugees have been told by their local council they may have to evict their current guest due to planning rules which the couple describe as “bureaucracy gone mad”. For full report, click here
Call for urgent Windrush payouts as survivors say Home Office ‘waiting for us to die’ – The Guardian
The Windrush commissioner has demanded “urgent reform” of the compensation scheme after being told by survivors that “the Home Office is waiting for us to die off”. In a letter seen by the Guardian addressed to the migration and equalities minister, Seema Malhotra, and shared with the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, Rev Clive Foster says it is “deeply concerning” that 66 people have died while waiting for compensation for the Windrush scandal. For full report, click here
Two men jailed for involvement in smuggling migrants illegally – BBC News UK
Two men have been jailed for conspiring to facilitate the illegal immigration of migrants, which included eight children, into the UK in the back of a lorry. Daniel Loughran, 36, from Newtown Hamilton, County Armagh and Eoin Nolan, 51, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire were prosecuted following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). For full report, click here
Immigration becomes voters’ top issue for first time since Brexit – SKY News
Immigration and asylum is back as the top issue of public concern the first time since Brexit, according to exclusive polling for Sky News. It overtook the economy as the number one issue facing the country in YouGov’s latest poll in May, even before the summer dominated by the migration debate. For full report, click here
Junior suspended over single alteration to email – Law Gazette
A solicitor has been suspended for a year after editing an email address in correspondence with a client. For full report, click here
Independent Reports
Indefinite Leave to Remain – Volume 772: debated on Monday 8 September 2025
The much-anticipated debate on whether the settlement pathway should be extended to a 10-year route took place on 8 September. The Hong Kong BNO and Skilled Worker visas were the highlights of this cross-party debate on the settlement route. For full report, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Prove pre-settled status if you have another UK immigration status has been published on 09th September 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 09th September 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 09th September 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance Family Customer Service standards has been updated on 08th September 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Caseworker Guidance: Family life and exceptional circumstances as been updated on 05th September 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Collection: Archive: Immigration Rules has been updated on 05th September 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Immigration Rules archive: 13 August 2025 to 3 September 2025 has been published on 05th September 2025. To view the Guidance, click here
Written by Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
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Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration advisors should consult the full decisions and official policy documents when advising clients on specific cases.
