
Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 18 October 2024
This week has seen a flurry of significant developments in UK immigration sphere, with changes to visa issuance procedures and growing concerns over the treatment of asylum seekers taking centre stage.
In a move towards digitalisation, the government has announced the cessation of Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card issuance from 31 October 2024. This shift will require individuals with permission to stay in the UK to create a UKVI account, through which they can access their eVisa and prove their status digitally.
Another notable change is the upcoming transition in commercial partner services for visa applications made outside the UK. Between September 2024 and January 2025, VFS Global will replace TLS contact in several regions, including Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The government has published guidance to assist applicants and advisors in navigating this transition.
Meanwhile, the welfare of asylum seekers continues to be a pressing issue. A recent inquest into the death of a Colombian man at an immigration detention centre has revealed multiple failings and missed opportunities, highlighting systemic issues within these facilities. The findings have prompted calls for urgent reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Adding to these concerns, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has raised alarm bells about the detrimental impact of the UK’s immigration system on asylum seekers’ mental health. The organisation has urged the government to review recent immigration laws, emphasising the need to protect the psychological well-being of those seeking sanctuary in the country.
Further scrutiny has fallen on the treatment of young children at a Gatwick airport deportation centre. A watchdog report has described the traumatisation of children and the “callous treatment” of their parents, calling for the closure of the facility. This revelation has reignited debates about the ethics of detaining families in such environments.
Amidst these developments, political figures continue to grapple with past decisions. Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick faced questions about his controversial order to remove cartoon characters from the walls of a children’s asylum-seeker centre, a decision he now appears to view with some regret.
As these events unfold, they emphasise the complex and often contentious nature of immigration policy in the UK, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that addresses both security concerns and the humane treatment of those seeking refuge.
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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
UK asylum backlog lower since Rwanda plan scrapped, figures show – The Guardian
Nearly 63,000 people who were waiting for their cases to be processed at the time of the general election are expected to be granted asylum by the Labour government, an analysis has found. The Refugee Council said the government’s decision to scrap the plan to deport people to Rwanda and accelerate claims meant the asylum backlog was forecast to be 118,063 at the start of 2025 – 59,000 cases lower than if the government had continued with the policy
For full report, click here
Lords committee calls on Labour to restore protections for modern slavery victims – The Guardian.
Labour should restore protections for victims of modern slavery, which have been undermined by recent Tory immigration laws, a House of Lords committee chaired by former TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady has said.
For full report, click here
Hundreds of Afghan soldiers to become eligible to live in UK after new information found – The Guardian
An estimated 500 elite Afghan soldiers who fought alongside the British are expected to become eligible to come to the UK after a previous decision rejecting their applications was overturned. Fresh information has been discovered in about a quarter of the 2,000 rejected cases proving that the at-risk veterans were paid and employed by the UK government in Afghanistan, despite previous claims that no such evidence existed. A review had been launched by the Conservatives in February.
For full report, click here
Doctors say UK’s immigration system risks ‘re-traumatizing’ asylum seekers – The Guardian
Top doctors have identified Britain’s immigration system as a “public mental health concern” that inflicts harm on asylum seekers, and risks “re-traumatising” those already affected by psychological distress.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) has called on ministers to review immigration laws introduced by the last government, saying Labour had a “moral and ethical obligation” to protect the mental health of those seeking sanctuary in the UK.
For full report, click here
Jenrick suggests he regrets removing Disney murals from asylum-seeker centre – The Guardian
The Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick has suggested he regrets ordering cartoon characters to be removed from the walls of a children’s asylum-seeker centre.
Asked about the incident on LBC radio, Jenrick initially defended the action, saying he was “very worried at the time and continue to be” about adults coming to the country illegally and posing as children.
For full report, click here
Children being traumatised at Gatwick deportation centre, finds watchdog – The Guardian
Young children are being traumatised while held at a Gatwick airport deportation centre that should be closed down, a watchdog has found. The independent monitoring board (IMB) also said the children’s parents were being subjected to “callous treatment and unnecessary suffering” because of the Home Office’s lengthy decision-making process over removals.
For full report, click here
Migrant took own life after ‘multiple failings’ at UK detention center – BBC News UK
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”.
For full report, click here
Case Law
Secretary of State for the Home Department v George [2024] EWCA Civ 1192.
This Court of Appeal decision clarifies that for EU nationals with the highest level of protection against deportation, the ‘imperative grounds of public security’ test cannot be met solely based on the severity of past offences. The Home Office must demonstrate future risk. The court also addressed procedural matters, confirming that the ‘Robinson obvious’ principle is limited to refugee law points favoring asylum seekers and should not be extended to benefit the Secretary of State. Despite allowing a late argument from the Home Office, the court firmly rejected its merit, emphasising the high threshold required for deporting long-term EU residents.
For full decision, click here
Home Office Guidance & Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Working while an asylum claim is considered has been updated on 16th October 2024.To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Applications from overstayers caseworker has been updated on 16th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: China: country policy and information notes has been updated on 16th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Online immigration status (eVisa) has been updated on 16th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Common travel area (immigration staff guidance) has been updated on 16th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Changes to the commercial partner visa application services has been updated on 16th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: China: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 15 October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors workers has been updated on 15th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 15th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Permission to stay as a stateless person has been updated on 15th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Powers and operational procedure has been updated on 14th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Registering children as British citizens has been updated on 14th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Interviewing suspects has been updated on 14th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Travel documents – no time limit has been updated on 14th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) have been updated on 11th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Public funds have been updated on 11th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Algeria: country policy and information notes have been updated on 11th October 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Written by Shareen Khan