Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 30 May 2025
This week’s UK immigration updates reflect an interesting turning point, with figures, findings, and enforcement all demanding practitioners’ attention. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a steep fall in net migration, halving from 860,000 to 431,000 in 2024. This drop is largely attributed to a decline in non-EU migration, particularly among work and study visa holders, alongside a notable increase in the emigration of international students returning home post-pandemic.
While former Home Secretary James Cleverly was quick to credit recent policy changes—like raising the Skilled Worker salary threshold to £38,700 and restricting dependant rights—experts caution that the real economic impact may be modest. Majority of the decline appears to stem from lower-skilled workers and student dependants rather than the highly skilled professionals who contribute significantly to key sectors.
Irregular migration is still on the increase with asylum claims at a record high of 109,000 cases, and small boat arrivals up 22% to 38,000 this year. This finding illustrates that the push factors and pressures that people face in trying to get to the UK for refuge and opportunities are still there for many people, and maybe even ramping up.
Meanwhile, the courts made a significant ruling in TJ Trading Express Ltd v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 1274 (Admin). The High Court quashed the immediate revocation of a petrol station company’s sponsor licence, as the Home Office did not give the business a chance to respond or deal with the allegations. The business had assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship to a family member, without disclosing the family relationship – this is a clear breach of the sponsor duties of the business – but the High Court also held that common law fairness requires the business to have a right to make representations, even when it relates to ‘mandatory’ revocation grounds. The Home Office was also taken to task for not providing clarity and details of whether the role to be filled was a genuine job role or merely some mechanism to aid the business in obtaining work visas for economic migrants.
Enforcement activity has accelerated significantly. Since July 2024, Immigration Enforcement has completed almost 6,800 visits for illegal working, with more than 4,700 arrests— this is an increase of over 40% compared to last year. In one of the more whimsical examples, two illegal workers ran out the back of the bar “Chicken and Beer” in Bournemouth during a raid and the business has lost its alcohol licence in the process. What could come across as humorous makes for an impactful headline but is serious in essence. In the case of Lotus Care, there testimony supported that they worked double shifts, sick leave was not granted, they were underpaid and that there threatened deportation as a consequence of complaining. This is a manifestation of the more alarming aspects of employer-sponsored immigration and the vulnerability of migrant workers and the reality of working in a world of employer-sponsored immigration, especially in underworked sectors – adult social care being prime example.
An HMI Prisons report on Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre highlighted poor detention conditions. The centre was found to be well led with some reasonable outcomes, but serious safeguarding issues remained. In a six-month period, there were 73 recorded cases of self-harm, and vulnerable detainees were frequently not identified and not being supported. Rule 35 processes were inconsistent, legal advice was inadequate, and the average time for detention was 67 days (one detainee was held for an astonishing 741 days). Of those detained, 60% of them were not removed from the UK and were released into the community, leading to significant questions about the current system in terms of its effectiveness and cost.
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is also stepping up its oversight. In line with a change in regulation, the IAA has changed its complaints process, making it easier and clearer for clients to complain about immigration advisors. The IAA is establishing higher professional standards across the sector and protecting vulnerable clients. Advisors are now responsible to do more than simply comply with immigration law; they now have the burden of ensuring standards of client care and transparency are maintained.
With the rollout of eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs), the landscape of UK border formalities has shifted significantly for individuals with leave to remain or leave to enter—including EU nationals. These changes affect how status is proved, how travel is planned, and what checks may arise at the border. To help advisors stay on top of these evolving requirements, join our live online course TRAVELLING TO THE EU AND SCHENGEN AREA covering the practicalities of eVisas, ETAs, and their implications for clients navigating the UK’s immigration system in real time.
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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
Agency care staff ‘charged £10k for free work visas’ – BBC News
Overseas workers hired to look after elderly and vulnerable people claim to have faced threats, exploitation and a “climate of fear” at a care home company. Employees at Lotus Care, which runs 10 care homes across north-west England, said they were often forced to work double shifts because of staff shortages, were denied sick leave, were underpaid and threatened with deportation if they complained.
For full report, click here
Popular food spots hiding a world of exploitation – BBC News
Since July 2024 Immigration Enforcement has carried out 6,784 illegal working visits to premises and made 4,779 arrests – an increase of 40% and 42% compared to the same period 12 months ago.
For full report, click here
Bar where illegal workers found stripped of licence – BBC News
A chicken bar where two illegal workers were found after a raid by immigration officials has been stripped of its licence to sell alcohol. The man and woman ran out of the back of Chicken N Beer in Stanfield Road, Bournemouth, when officials spotted them in February. HM Immigration Enforcement said the man entered the UK illegally on a small boat in 2022 and that neither of them had ever been allowed to work in the country.
For full report, click here
Complaints Form for clients of IAA Advisors has been updated – Immigration Advice Authority
The Immigration Advice Authority is strengthening compliance requirements for immigration advisors and has updated complaint forms to make it easier for dissatisfied clients to raise concerns, reflecting enhanced regulatory oversight to protect clients and maintain professional standards.
To view the updated forms, click here
Another Windrush generation man has UK deportation order revoked –The Guardian
A Windrush generation man who was wrongly excluded from the UK by the Home Office has had his deportation order revoked in the second case of its kind to come to light in the space of a week.
For full report, click here
UK Border Force is in effect under military command, report says – The Guardian
The UK Border Force is in effect under military command, reflecting a wider increase of “hyper-militarisation” in policing, according to a new report on international law enforcement. A report by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death, says the 21st century has seen the emergence of paramilitary and “political” policing across Europe, employed at borders, during civil unrest and against public protest.
For full report, click here
Record number of Americans seeking UK residency, says Home Office – The Guardian
Over the period, 6,618 Americans applied for British citizenship – with more than 1,900 of the applications received between January and March, most of which has been during the beginning of Donald Trump’s second US presidency.
For full report, click here
Call for freeze on Syrian asylum claims to end – BBC News
Ministers are facing calls to start processing Syrian asylum applications again, as new figures showed more than 7,000 people are still in limbo. The UK paused decisions on Syrian claims for asylum and permanent settlement in December, after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad
For full report, click here
Starmer migration plan will damage Wales, FM fears – BBC News
Wales’ first minister says she is worried Sir Keir Starmer’s migration plans will damage the country. Speaking to a BBC podcast, Eluned Morgan said she was concerned about “both” the Prime Minister’s policy and the language he used to announce it.
For full report, click here
Case Law
Mustaj v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 663
This Court of Appeal case clarifies that under the EU Settlement Scheme; an unlawfully present person cannot qualify as a “durable partner” under paragraph (aaa) of Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. The court held that only those with a lawful basis of stay in the UK before the transition period end can benefit from this provision, rejecting the appellant’s argument that being unlawfully present would assist his case. The judges also criticised the “highly convoluted” and poorly drafted Immigration Rules, calling for implementation of the Law Commission’s recommendations to simplify them, noting that such complex drafting undermines the rule of law and wastes judicial resources.
For full decision, click here
TJ Trading Express Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 1274 (Admin)
This High Court case quashed the Secretary of State’s immediate revocation of a petrol station company’s sponsor licence without giving it an opportunity to make representations. The company had assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship to the director’s brother-in-law for a “Petrol Station Manager” role without disclosing the family relationship, breaching sponsor duties. Mrs Justice Hill held that common law procedural fairness required the opportunity to make representations before such a significant decision, even where “mandatory” grounds for revocation existed, and that the decision was inadequately reasoned regarding whether the vacancy was genuinely created to facilitate immigration rather than for legitimate business purposes.
For full decision, click here
Independent Reports
Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending December 2024 – Office for National Statistics
UK net migration fell by a record 50% in 2024 to 431,000, down from 860,000 in 2023, primarily due to government policy changes restricting work and study visas for non-EU nationals, whilst asylum claims hit a record high of 109,000 cases.
For full report, click here
Report on an unannounced inspection of Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons 20 January – 6 February 2025
HMI Prisons found Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre to be well-led with reasonably good outcomes, but highlighted serious safeguarding failures including inconsistent protection procedures, underuse of Rule 35 processes for vulnerable detainees, and 73 self-harm incidents in six months. The inspection revealed prolonged detention periods averaging 67 days (with one case lasting 741 days), inadequate mental health support following a detainee suicide, poor physical conditions, and unsatisfactory legal advice provision, with only 40% of detainees ultimately being removed whilst half were released into the community.
For full report, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Appendix family reunion: caseworker has been updated on 28th May 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Deporting foreign nationals on conducive grounds: caseworker has been updated on 28th May 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 28th May 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 28th May 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Overview: Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK has been updated. To view the updated Overview, click here
Guidance: Code of practice for sports governing bodies has been updated on 28 may 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.
