Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 2 May 2025
This week has seen interesting developments across several areas of UK immigration policy, with particular focus on safeguarding migrant workers and reform of asylum processes.
The Work Rights Centre has published a comprehensive report calling for a new ‘Workplace Justice Visa’ to address serious flaws in the UK’s employer-sponsored visa system. Based on a six-country comparison, the report argues that the current system creates dangerous power imbalances between employers and migrant workers, potentially breaching the UK’s international human rights obligations. Among key recommendations are extending the post-employment grace period from 60 days to six months, introducing stronger civil and criminal penalties for employers who abuse the sponsorship system, and establishing a dedicated visa pathway for exploited workers. Over 130 organisations have endorsed these proposals in a letter to the Home Secretary.
The exploitation risks highlighted in the WoRC report are evidenced in BBC reporting this week, which revealed that sponsor licence revocations have increased by 350% from 336 in 2023 to 1,514 in 2024, with over a third occurring in London. Migrant workers like Jamil from Bangladesh describe being left “in limbo” after their sponsoring companies lost licences, having paid substantial fees for jobs that sometimes never materialised. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants reports that affected workers are being “pushed into destitution,” with many unable to secure alternative sponsorship within the restricted timeframe.
In a significant Court of Appeal judgment, Lady Justice Andrews has allowed the Home Secretary’s appeal in Ackom v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 537, concerning the deportation of a German national who had lived in the UK since age seven. The court ruled that the First-tier Tribunal failed to properly apply the ‘Kamara test’ when assessing whether there would be “very significant obstacles” to integration in Germany, particularly given that Germany’s society is not significantly different from the UK’s. This is the first case since Brexit examining deportation of EU nationals to another EU state.
Meanwhile, the Home Office has announced plans to strengthen asylum processes through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. Foreign nationals convicted of sex offences will be excluded from refugee protections, the tribunals will have a new 24-week target to decide appeals from asylum seekers in accommodation, and artificial intelligence will be deployed across asylum processing to speed up decision-making. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated these measures are part of the government’s plan to “restore order to a broken asylum system,” highlighting that asylum decision-making increased by 52% in the last quarter of 2024.
Of particular interest to immigration advisors this week is the Home Office announcement of new powers to tackle unregulated immigration advice. Under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) will gain powers to impose fines of up to £15,000 on individuals illegally posing as immigration advisors. The new measures will also close a loophole allowing banned advisors to continue working under “supervision” and give the IAA the ability to immediately suspend advisors suspected of serious misconduct. Minister for Border Security, Dame Angela Eagle, cited cases of fraudsters using social media to target vulnerable migrants, highlighting the case of Sukhwinder Singh Kang who scammed victims through Facebook support groups by posing as a registered Level 3 advisor.
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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
Sex offenders to be stripped of refugee protections – UKVI News
Tougher border security measures will keep British streets safer, with foreign sex offenders to be excluded from refugee protections as the government announces new measures to slash the asylum backlog and strengthen border security through the Plan for Change.
At present, the Refugee Convention entitles countries to refuse asylum to terrorists, war criminals and individuals convicted of a ‘particularly serious crime’ who present a danger to the community – defined in the UK as an offence carrying a sentence of 12 months or more.
For full report, click here
Private landlords and hotels ‘cashing in’ on England’s hidden homelessness crisis – The Guaridan
Private landlords and hotel owners are charging councils far in excess of market rent to house people who would otherwise end up on the street, an investigation has found, laying bare the depth of England’s hidden homelessness crisis. Local authorities in England are paying 60% more for rooms in places such as bed and breakfasts and hostels than it would cost to rent similar-sized accommodation on the private market, with half of them spending double the local going rate.
For full report, click here
Migrant workers ‘in limbo’ over employer licence crackdown – BBC News UK
Jamil, a migrant worker from Bangladesh, says he has been left stranded and in limbo after being exploited and then abandoned by a company who recruited him to help fulfil the UK’s shortage of care workers. Following a crackdown from the government, the company he had been working for lost its licence to employ foreign workers.
For full report, click here
Bikers gather in Dover for anti-immigration protest – BBC News UK
About 200 motorcyclists descended on Dover for a planned anti-immigration protest on Sunday.
Carrying Union Jack flags and placards reading “Stop the boats”, the bikers gathered in the town centre at about 12:00 BST ahead of protest and counter-protest marches.
For full report, click here
Thousands on axed Rwanda scheme list to have asylum claims processed in UK – The Guardian
Thousands of people left in limbo since plans to deport them to Rwanda, were axed will now have their asylum claims processed in the UK, Labour has confirmed. While being forcibly removed to Rwanda is no longer an option, they received letters saying that although their asylum claims would be admitted to the UK, “if circumstances change or further information becomes available to us to suggest that inadmissibility action under these or other provisions is in fact appropriate, we will notify you accordingly”.
For full report, click here
New powers to root out fake ‘lawyers’ giving rogue asylum advice – UKVI News
Fake immigration lawyers offering rogue ‘advice’ to migrants on how to lodge fraudulent asylum claims will be weeded out through tough new powers in the government’s milestone Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill. The crackdown on fake immigration advisers is part of this government’s action to create an asylum system where the rules are respected and strictly enforced. It builds on a surge in illegal working enforcement activity and targets those exploiting vulnerable migrants who undermine the security of our immigration system.
For full report, click here
Case Law
Secretary of State for the Home Department v Ackom [2025] EWCA Civ 537
The Court of Appeal allowed the Home Secretary’s appeal against a First-tier Tribunal decision that blocked the deportation of a German national of Ghanaian heritage to Germany. The court ruled that the judge failed to properly apply the “Kamara test” when assessing whether there would be “very significant obstacles” to the man’s integration in Germany. Lady Justice Andrews concluded the judge either did not adequately consider whether the identified obstacles (no family ties, unfamiliarity with German culture, inability to speak German) would seriously inhibit integration, or failed to provide sufficient reasoning for this conclusion, particularly given that Germany’s society is not significantly different from the UK’s.
For full decision, click here
Independent Reports
Safeguarding Sponsored Workers – report by Adis Sehic and Dora Olivia Vicol, Work Rights Centre
The Work Rights Centre has published a report criticising the UK’s employer-sponsored visa system for creating power imbalances that enable exploitation of migrant workers. Based on a six-country comparison, the charity warns the current system may breach human rights obligations and proposes a new ‘Workplace Justice Visa’ that would allow exploited workers to remain in the UK whilst seeking alternative employment. Additional recommendations include extending the post-employment grace period from 60 days to six months and introducing stronger penalties for abusive employers. Over 130 organisations have signed a letter supporting these reforms.
For full report, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Powers and operational procedure: caseworker has been updated on 30th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Asylum claims from UK visa applicants caseworker has been updated on 30th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 30th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 30th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Nationality forms guide has been updated on 30th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Registration as British if your mother had connection to a British Overseas Territory has been updated on 29th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Form: Application to register child under 18 as British subject has been updated on 29th April 2025. To view the updated Form, click here
Form: Application to register child under 18 as British Overseas citizen has been updated on 29th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Form RS1 has been updated on 29th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Form: Application to register as British overseas territories citizen has been updated on 28th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Form B(OTA) has been updated on 28th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Form T has been updated on 28th April 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Written by Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
STAY TUNED FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS NEXT WEEK!
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.
