Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 15 August 2025
This week has brought several significant developments that immigration advisors should note, spanning tribunal decisions, policy announcements, and ongoing industry challenges.
The Upper Tribunal has delivered two notable judgments that provide important guidance for practitioners. In the case of R (TT) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, a 68-year-old Zimbabwean woman’s challenge to refused indefinite leave to remain was unsuccessful, despite compelling personal circumstances. The applicant, who became primary carer for her British granddaughter following her daughter’s COVID-19 death and works as an elderly carer, saw her application rejected due to a 2005 conviction for possessing a false passport used to obtain a National Insurance Number.
The tribunal’s reasoning centred on the Home Office having conducted what it deemed a comprehensive assessment in accordance with policy guidance. Whilst the decision may seem harsh given the applicant’s contributions to society and the age of the conviction, the court found the refusal to be within the bounds of rational decision-making. The applicant has been ordered to pay substantial legal costs, highlighting the financial risks of unsuccessful challenges.
Meanwhile, another Upper Tribunal decision in R (UNG) v Secretary of State for the Home Department has provided valuable practical guidance for those facing public order disqualification from trafficking protections. The case concerned a young French national who had been granted EU settled status but later received criminal convictions. When referred to the National Referral Mechanism as a potential trafficking victim, the Home Office initiated public order disqualification proceedings.
The tribunal dismissed the challenge but, provided detailed guidance on what extension of time requests should contain. Practitioners should note the emphasis on preparing comprehensive witness statements explaining the applicant’s circumstances rather than relying solely on promises to obtain expert evidence.
On the policy front, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced radical changes to foreign prisoner deportation procedures. Under new proposals requiring parliamentary approval, most foreign criminals would face immediate deportation upon conviction rather than serving 30% of their sentences in UK prisons. The government estimates this could generate substantial savings given that each prison place costs approximately £54,000 annually and foreign offenders comprise 12% of the prison population.
However, serious offenders including terrorists and murderers serving indeterminate sentences would continue serving time in the UK before deportation consideration. Prison governors would retain discretionary powers to prevent deportation where national security concerns exist. The changes reflect the government’s response to severe prison overcrowding, with facilities operating at 97.5% capacity.
Immigration advisors should also be aware of concerning developments regarding food delivery services in London, where a luxury housing complex near Canary Wharf has banned delivery riders citing security concerns linked to nearby asylum seeker protests. Whilst the major delivery companies have robustly defended their worker verification processes, the incident illustrates how immigration-related tensions can have wider discriminatory effects on migrant communities.
As regulations tighten, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is increasing scrutiny on immigration practices to ensure they stay updated on evolving rules and case law. Practitioners must keep their knowledge current and comply with supervisory standards.
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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
Abuse of suspected migrants not an ‘innocent mistake’, says UK equality campaigner – The Guardian
The vitriol faced by scouts and charity rowers mistaken for migrants was not an “innocent mistake”, a race equality campaigner has said, as she warned that toxic rhetoric could lead to more vigilantism and violence. A wave of anti-migrant protests outside asylum hotels in recent weeks has been followed by growing reports of vigilantism, with people facing abuse after being mistaken for migrants.
For full report, click here
Foreign criminals convicted in UK to be deported immediately under new plans – The Guardian
Most foreign criminals convicted by a UK court will be deported immediately, instead of 30% of the way through their prison sentences, under plans announced by the government. The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has proposed a change in legislation that will give the government the power to deport most foreign prisoners as soon as they are convicted and incarcerated.
For full report, click here
Food delivery riders banned from luxury flats in London – The Guardian
Food delivery riders from Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have been barred from entering a luxury apartment complex near to where protests against asylum seekers have taken place, with management citing media reports that made claims about “undocumented” workers. The food delivery companies rejected the suggestion they employed undocumented couriers, saying they had robust checks and zero-tolerance policies on illegal working.
For full report, click here
More than 50,000 people have crossed Channel in small boats since Labour took power – The Guardian
More than 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Keir Starmer became prime minister, official figures have confirmed. Home Office data released this week which showed that 50,271 people, most of whom successfully claimed asylum, have arrived in the UK from France since Labour won the general election in July 2024. A total of 474 people arrived on Monday.
For full report, click here
UK visa services firm sues ex-boss for £6m over alleged improper use of profits – The Guardian
The company that runs visa services for the UK government is suing its former chief executive for £6m over her alleged improper use of profits earned during a period of record immigration. Cloud Bai-Yun, who once represented the UK on an international ethics and fraud advisory body, is accused by Ecctis of a breach of fiduciary duty, according to court filings.
For full report, click here
UK party leaders urged to end ‘pernicious currents’ of hatred fuelling anti-migrant protests – The Guardian
More than 200 refugee organisations, charities and trade unions have signed an open letter calling on Britain’s political leaders to end “pernicious and insidious currents” of racism and hatred that underpin a slew of anti-migrant protests. The letter, coordinated by the campaign coalition Together With Refugees, has been signed by organisations including Amnesty International UK, City of Sanctuary UK, Care for Calais, Doctors of the World, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Freedom from Torture, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, the Public and Commercial Services Union, Refugee Action and Safe Passage.
For full report, click here
EU citizens awaiting UK residency status have right to travel, Home Office told – The Guardian
EU citizens waiting for the Home Office to decide their pre-Brexit residency status should not be removed from the UK if they make a short return visit abroad for business, leisure or family matters, the statutory body for EU citizens’ rights has said.
For full report, click here
Campaigners criticise UK plans to reveal suspects’ ethnicity and migration status – The Guardian
Anti-racism campaigners have criticised proposals to allow police to reveal the ethnicity and migration status of suspects, after a row triggered by claims police “covered up” the backgrounds of two men charged in connection to the alleged rape of a child. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, this week told the BBC she hoped the Law Commission would “accelerate” a review of contempt of court and that “guidance needs to change” about information released when a trial is pending.
For full report, click here
Canadian who could not renew visa due to mental health crisis faces UK ban – The Guardian
The Home Office is threatening to ban a Canadian academic from the UK after she was unable to renew her visa in time during a mental health crisis. Dr Heather Scott has lived in Britain since she came in 2011 on a study visa. The renowned academic, whose area of research relates to Victorian cemeteries including Highgate, Brompton and Abney Park, is required to be based in London.
For full report, click here
Three thousand riot officers readied for weekend of protests in England and Wales – The Guardian
Three thousand riot officers will be deployed and placed on standby amid concerns a string of anti-asylum seeker protests and counter-protests this weekend could lead to violence and disorder.
Police commanders at a national level have made the decision. It is the first time since last summer’s riots that there has been a mass and national standing up of specialist public order officers.
For full report, click here
Rupert Lowe reports charity rowers to coastguard as possible ‘illegal migrants’ – The Guardian
The independent MP Rupert Lowe has agreed to donate £1,000 to a charity after mistaking its rowing crew, including a former Royal Marine, for possible “illegal migrants”. Lowe, who was elected as a Reform MP for Great Yarmouth but now sits as an independent, said he had shopped the crew to the authorities and vowed to do everything he could to have them deported if they turned out to be what he suspected
For full report, click here
Police in England brace for disorder as far right promote anti-migrant protests – The Guardian
Police are braced for potential disorder in towns across England this weekend amid the far right’s promotion of a range of protests against asylum seekers, with anti-racism activists planning counter-protests. Restrictions will be in place on Friday at locations including Norwich while officers will police at least 12 other towns and cities that evening.
For full report, click here
International student levy could cost English universities £600m a year – The Guardian
The government’s proposed levy on international student fees could cost universities in England more than £600m a year if it goes ahead, a study has found. The 6% surcharge on tuition fees paid by overseas students, floated in the Home Office’s recent immigration white paper, would particularly hit leading universities such as University College London (UCL) and the University of Manchester, based on the figures compiled by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi).
For full report, click here
How many people cross the Channel in small boats? – BBC News UK
More than 27,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel since the start of the year. Some people arriving on small boats will be detained and sent back to France, under a new agreement between the British and French governments.
For full report, click here
Opposing groups protest outside asylum seeker hotel – BBC News UK
Two groups peacefully gathered in Bristol city centre earlier to voice opposing views on immigration.
About 100 anti-immigration protesters turned up to a planned demonstration outside the Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel, which is housing asylum seekers, and near Bristol Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
For full report, click here
Hundreds gather for rival immigration protests – BBC News UK
Two groups of protesters have gathered in a Dorset town on Saturday to voice opposing views on immigration. About 300 people were protesting in Meyrick Road, Bournemouth, which was shut to the public under section 14 of the Public Order Act 1996.
For full report, click here
SRA concerned by solicitors’ lack of ‘meaningful reflection’ on training
The Solicitors Regulation Authority could place extra ongoing training requirements on solicitors amid concern about a lack of ‘meaningful reflection’ on courses being completed. The regulator says that evidence from its training records and reviews of the legal sector show that solicitors completed at least one learning and development activity in the last year to maintain their competence. This was most commonly through self-study materials, online courses or attending a conference or seminar.
For full report, click here
Case Law
Zoto, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 2148 (Admin)
The High Court found that the claim had become academic once the applicant’s asylum was granted and the government’s position, outlined both in correspondence and in an earlier consent order was clear: no further inadmissibility action would be taken against members of the cohort, and all affected claims would be substantively determined in the UK.
For full decision, click here
R (TT) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, JR-2025-LON-000110
The Upper Tribunal dismissed the judicial review, ruling that the Home Office had conducted a “full and detailed” consideration of the applicant’s circumstances in accordance with policy guidance and taken account of all relevant matters. The court found no merit in claims of unlawful fettering of discretion or failure to consider exceptional circumstances, concluding that the Home Office was “unarguably entitled” to refuse indefinite leave to remain based on the 2005 conviction and that the challenge amounted to little more than disagreement with a rational decision.
For full decision, click here
R (UNG) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, JR-2024-LON-002780
The Upper Tribunal dismissed a judicial review challenging both the policy requiring “exceptional circumstances” for extending the ten-day deadline to respond to public order disqualification notifications and the individual decision to refuse such an extension. The tribunal declined to rule on the policy challenge, considering it academic, but upheld the refusal to extend time, finding the decision maker’s reasons were “legally sustainable” based on the limited information provided. Importantly, the tribunal provided detailed guidance on what future extension requests should include, emphasising the need for witness statements explaining the applicant’s circumstances and specific evidence of steps taken to obtain expert reports, rather than vague assertions about commissioning evidence.
For full decision, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Collection: Archive: Immigration Rules has been updated on 13th August 2025. To view the updated Collection, click here
Guidance: Immigration Rules archive: 6 August 2025 to 12 August 2025 has been published on 13th August 2025. To view the Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 13th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 13th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: UK European Applicant Transfer Scheme: caseworker has been updated on 11th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Children of British parents: caseworker has been updated on 11th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Registering children as British citizens: caseworker has been updated on 11th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Nigeria: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 11th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Turkey: country policy and information notes has been updated on 08th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Returns preparation: caseworker has been updated on 08th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Health and Care visa: guidance for applicants has been updated on 08th August 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Afghanistan: country policy and information notes has been updated on 08th August 2025. To view the updated 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.
