Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 23 August 2024
As we wrap up another eventful week in the realm of UK immigration, we yet again find ourselves dealing with increasingly turbulent waters in the ever-evolving immigration regime. This past week has brought forth a series of significant developments.
The UK Government has unveiled a robust plan to curb the influx of asylum seekers arriving via small boats. This strategy includes ramping up deportation flights and intensifying efforts to combat illegal employment. As advisors, we must be prepared for the ripple effects these measures may have on our clients and the broader immigration landscape.
The Home Office’s initiative to hire 100 new investigations officers targeting people-smuggling gangs signals a shift towards a more aggressive approach. This move, coupled with the aim to increase deportations to 2018 levels, suggests a tightening of the immigration system that we’ll need to navigate carefully.
A deeply concerning trend has emerged in the social care sector. The Royal College of Nursing reports a sixfold increase in foreign care workers reporting exploitative contracts over the past three years. This alarming statistic highlights the vulnerability of migrant workers and underscores the need for vigilant advocacy and support from our profession.
Perhaps the most troubling development is the doubling of deaths among asylum seekers in Home Office care over the past year. While some deaths are attributed to natural causes, the specter of suicide looms large. This tragic situation calls for a critical examination of the support systems in place for asylum seekers and reinforces our role in safeguarding their wellbeing.
It’s worth noting that immigration has once again become the top concern for British voters, according to recent polls. This shift in public sentiment, coupled with recent unrest, including far-right riots, paints a complex picture of the current sociopolitical climate surrounding immigration.
As we process these developments, it’s clear that our role as immigration advisors is more crucial than ever. We must stay informed, adapt our strategies, and continue to advocate for fair and humane immigration policies.
The coming weeks and months will likely bring further changes and challenges. Let’s remain committed to supporting one another and, most importantly, the individuals and families who rely on our expertise during these uncertain times.
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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
Home Secretary announces new measures to boost Britain’s border security – GOV UK News
New measures to boost Britain’s border security are being set out (21 August) by the Home Secretary, including the immediate recruitment of up to 100 new specialist intelligence and investigation officers at the National Crime Agency (NCA) to target, dismantle and disrupt organized immigration crime networks.
Yvette Cooper has also today announced a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity, to make sure that immigration and asylum rules are respected and enforced – saying that the government has new plans for the next 6 months to achieve the highest rate of removals of those with no right to be here, including failed asylum seekers, for 5 years (since 2018)
For full report, click here
Sixfold rise in foreign care workers in UK complaining of exploitation – The Guardian
The number of foreign social care workers reporting that they are trapped in exploitative contracts has risen sixfold in the last three years, in the latest evidence of widespread abuse of migrants in the British care system.
Data from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) shows that the organization was contacted 134 times in 2023-24 by care workers reporting that their employers were demanding large sums of money from them to cover “hiring costs”, including visa processing, if they left their jobs. This figure was up from 22 such complaints just three years ago.
For full report, click here
Number of UK asylum seekers who died in Home Office care doubles in a year – The Guardian
The number of asylum seekers who have died in the care of the Home Office has more than doubled in the last year, according to data shared with the Guardian, a development that has been described as “deeply troubling”.
While some deaths were a result of illness or old age, others are thought to have happened as a result of suicide. Charities fear that the treatment of asylum seekers in the UK has adversely affected the health of an already vulnerable group of people.
For full report, click here
Border Force staff at Heathrow to take strike action for most of September – The Guardian
Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow will take industrial action for 23 days from the end of the month over a long-running dispute about changes to their terms of employment.
About 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will go on strike from 31 August to 3 September at which point a period of work to rule – where no overtime is undertaken and no extra work is done beyond what is contractually required – will begin and continue until 22 September.
For full report, click here
Man jailed over violent asylum hotel protest – BBC News UK
A man has been jailed for two years and five months for taking part in a violent protest at a hotel housing asylum seeker.
About 200 protesters shouted abuse and caused damage to the Potters International Hotel in Aldershot, Hampshire, on 31 July, Winchester Crown Court heard.
For full report, click here
How many people cross the Channel in small boats and how many claim asylum in the UK? BBC News UK
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he plans to cut the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats by taking tougher measures to “smash” people smuggling gangs.
A plan by the previous Conservative government to deport migrants to Rwanda was scrapped by Labour.
For full report, click here
Ministers pledge to return more illegal migrants – BBC News UK
Home Office ministers have promised a “large surge” in returns flights for failed asylum seekers and others with no right to be in the UK.
Plans include 100 more new intelligence officers to target people smuggling gangs and reopening immigration removal centers in Hampshire and Oxfordshire, adding 290 beds.
For full report, click here
Pakistani man faces cyber-terror charge over false posts linked to UK riots – Al Jazeera News
A Pakistani man has appeared in court to face charges of cyber-terrorism after allegedly spreading disinformation on his clickbait website thought to have fueled anti-immigration riots in the United Kingdom.
Farhan Asif was accused of publishing an article on his Channel3Now website falsely claiming that a Muslim asylum seeker was suspected of a deadly knife attack which killed three girls – aged six, seven and nine – at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga session for children in Southport.
For full report, click here
UK to recruit 100 special intelligence officers to increase deportations of failed asylum seekers – Info Migrants
The UK government has announced yet another set of measures to tackle irregular migration. Over the next six months, it aims to achieve the highest rate of deportations in five years, targeting individuals with no legal right to remain, including failed asylum seekers, with a goal of returning to 2018 levels.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government plans to immediately recruit 100 specialist intelligence officers and expand its immigration detention network, the UK Home Office announced on Wednesday (August 19).
For full report, click here
Nearly 500 migrants crossed Channel in small boats on Saturday – SKY News
The latest figures showed that 492 people made the crossing in nine boats – after a week that saw hundreds more make the journey.
Some 107 arrived on Wednesday, 125 on Monday and 703 last Sunday, the figures revealed.
For full report, click here
Case Law
Al Hassan (Article 8, entry clearance, KF (Syria)) [2024] UKUT 00234
The Upper Tribunal allowed the appeal, overturning the First-tier Tribunal’s decision. The judge found that refusing entry clearance to the appellants (family members of a Syrian refugee in the UK) was disproportionate and breached Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention. This decision was based on the strong family ties, the risk of refoulement to Syria if the appellants remained in Jordan, and the potential destruction of family life. The judge weighed these factors against public interest concerns, ultimately deciding that the particular circumstances of this case justified allowing the appeal on human rights grounds.
For full decision, click here
LR (Afghanistan)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Ukrainian Family Scheme – discrimination, nationality) [2024] UKUT 00236
The Upper Tribunal dismissed the judicial review application on all grounds. They found that while the Ukrainian Family Scheme falls within the ambit of Article 8 ECHR for the purposes of an Article 14 claim, and the Afghan applicant was in an analogous situation to Ukrainian nationals, the discrimination based on nationality was objectively justified. The Tribunal also ruled that Article 8 was not engaged as there was insufficient evidence of family life between the applicant and his UK-based brother. Finally, they found no public law errors in the Secretary of State’s refusal to exercise discretion to grant entry clearance outside the Immigration Rules.
For full decision, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: UKRI endorsement employing or hosting institutions (Global Talent visa) has been updated on 21st August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: China tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 21st August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Immigration status and enforcement action caseworker has been updated on 21st August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors workers has been updated on 21st August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors students has been updated on 21st August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: UKRI endorsement endorsed funders (Global Talent visa) has been updated on 20th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Seamen arriving in the UK caseworker has been updated on 20th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Sierra Leone tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 20th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: BOTC registration in special circumstances caseworker has been updated on 20th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Ceasing asylum support caseworker has been updated on 19th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) has been updated on 16th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Chapter 08 – appendix FM family members caseworker has been updated on 16th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Afghanistan country policy and information notes has been updated on 16th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Kuwait country policy and information notes has been updated on 16th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Afghan citizens resettlement scheme has been updated on 16th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Written by Shareen Khan
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