Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 9 August 2024
In a deeply concerning turn of events this week, the immigration legal community in the UK has found itself at the centre of a storm of far-right threats and intimidation. Immigration lawyers have been advised to bolster their security measures or consider staying away from work altogether, as extremist groups circulated a list of up to 60 immigration advice centres on social media platforms, suggesting they should be targeted for protests. The Law Society and Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) have raised alarm bells, warning that their members are at risk in the current climate.
The situation had escalated to such a degree that cases at an immigration tribunal near Heathrow Airport were abruptly halted on Wednesday this week. Staff, lawyers, and claimants at Hatton Cross Tribunal Hearing Centre were instructed to evacuate the premises around midday due to reports of far-right activity in the vicinity. This precautionary measure resulted in incomplete hearings and disrupted legal proceedings. It is believed that other immigration tribunals across the country have also been forced to close early amidst fears of potential violence.
Many prominent legal professionals have pointed to the inflammatory rhetoric employed by Conservative politicians over the years as a contributing factor to the current hostile environment. The demonisation of “lefty lawyers” working on asylum cases by figures such as Boris Johnson and Suella Braverman has been cited as fuelling abuse and emboldening far-right elements.
The situation took a further troubling turn when a demonstration outside a hotel in Aldershot, which houses asylum seekers, devolved into what has been described as a “mob-type” protest. Demonstrators held placards with slogans such as “no apartments for illegals” and “deport them, don’t support them” lined the streets. The scene quickly escalated, with reports of rocks, fireworks, and other missiles being hurled at the building while protesters chanted “get them out”. Inside, asylum seekers were left cowering in fear.
This distressing chain of events highlights the vulnerable position of both immigration legal professionals and asylum seekers in the UK. The Home Office’s policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels has inadvertently made them more visible and susceptible to targeting by extremist groups.
As the situation continues to unfold, there are growing calls for increased protection for those working in immigration law and for a re-evaluation of the rhetoric surrounding asylum seekers and the professionals who represent them
Immigration lawyers have been warned to take extra security measures or stay away from work amid far-right threats to target their firms, with legal groups blaming political attacks on the profession for fuelling abuse.
The Law Society and Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) said their members were at risk, after a list of up to 60 immigration advice centres was circulated on Telegram with a message suggesting they should be the target of protests on Wednesday.
This alarming trend has prompted legal regulators to take action, issuing official safety guidance and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for immigration practitioners. These measures aim to protect legal professionals who play a crucial role in navigating complex immigration processes and defending the rights of vulnerable populations.
Amongst other news a prominent development was seen as the Home Office revised its eVisa guidance, marking a significant change. Biometric residence permit (BRP) holders in the UK can now create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and access their eVisa without requiring an email invitation. However, the updated guidance notes that not all eVisas may be immediately visible.
The Home Office has also released a helpful video on Youtube to assist with the registration process which can be visited here
Considering this week’s developments, it is expected that the Government may implement changes to current policies regarding asylum seekers and other immigration matters.
As ever, HJT remains committed to keeping all immigration practitioners fully informed of the latest developments. We will continue to support you through our range of services, including our live online training sessions and subscription-based access to our comprehensively updated Mastering Immigration Law resource content.
Pre-Orders are now open for the latest hardcopy 2024 edition of the Mastering Immigration Law manual, available for just £199! This not only secures you the hardcopy resource, but also unlocks immediate access to our suite of online materials including training videos, MCQs, Case law, CPD-eligible content, 15% discount on HJT’s live training courses and many more. Ensuring you and your firm stay ahead of the curve has never been easier.
For more information or to subscribe, visit here For more information on our other live sessions, visit here
For enquiries, contact us enquiries@hjt-training.co.uk or call 075441 64692.
For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, see below.
Immigration News
Official Safety Guidance Issued by all Legal Regulators in the UK
Amidst rising anti-immigration riots, far-right targeting has expanded beyond migrants and minorities to include immigration lawyers. This concerning development has prompted swift action from legal regulators. Official safety guidance and standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been issued to protect immigration practitioners. The OISC has removed advisor details from its Find an Advisor Portal due to safety concerns. They’ve also distributed safety guidance directly to all registered immigration advisors over email.
These measures aim to safeguard legal professionals working in this increasingly volatile field.
For the Safety Guidance issued by Law Society, visit here
For the Safety Guidance issued by Bar Council, visit here
Immigration lawyers ‘at risk’ amid far-right threats to target advice centres – The Guardian.
Immigration lawyers have been warned to take extra security measures or stay away from work amid far-right threats to target their firms, with legal groups blaming political attacks on the profession for fuelling abuse.
The Law Society and Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) said their members were at risk, after a list of up to 60 immigration advice centres was circulated on Telegram with a message suggesting they should be the target of protests on Wednesday.
For full report, click here
Government concerned by immigration lawyer ‘hitlist’ – BBC News UK.
The government says social media platforms “clearly need to do far more” after it emerged a list purporting to contain the names and addresses of immigration lawyers was being spread online.
Initially shared on the Telegram messaging app – along with the phrase “no more immigration” – it has now begun appearing on other platforms.
For full report, click here
‘Mob-type’ protest at asylum hotel condemned by PCC – BBC News UK.
A peaceful demonstration descended into a ‘mob-type’ protest at a hotel housing asylum seekers, a police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said.
People holding placards with slogans such as “no apartments for illegals” and “deport them, don’t support them” lined a road near the Potters International Hotel in Aldershot on Wednesday evening.
For full report, click here
UK-riots live rioters jailed over Merseyside – The Guardian.
Cases being heard at an immigration tribunal were abandoned on Wednesday following concerns that far-right thugs could target the building.
Staff, lawyers and claimants at Hatton Cross Tribunal Hearing Centre, near Heathrow Airport, were ordered to leave at around lunchtime. Some hearings could not be completed.
Those inside the court building were told that there was far-right activity in the area. A Whitehall source said the decision to abandon the court was precautionary.
It is understood that other immigration tribunals have also been closed early because of fears of violence.
The Ministry of Justice has been approached for a comment and asked how many other tribunals and courts have been closed due to the current wave of disorder
For full report, click here
United against hate: England’s counter-protesters left with little to counter – The Guardian.
It was the day that England held its breath. Across the country, and over the Irish sea in Belfast, police feared and were braced for the most widespread night of violence in more than a decade.
Shops were boarded up, theatre performances cancelled and hotels and immigration advice centres closed over fears they were in the crosshairs of the far-right disorder that has laid siege to dozens of towns and cities over the past week.
For full report, click here
‘Some threatened to kill us’: asylum seekers left fearful by far-right mobs – The Guardian.
Outside the asylum seeker hotel, the far-right mob are baying “get them out” while hurling rocks, fireworks and other missiles. Behind the hotel windows, those who live there cower in terror.
But this was not the scene outside the asylum seeker hotel in Rotherham that was attacked by far-right thugs on Sunday, nor in Hull on Saturday. This happened outside the Suites hotel in Knowsley on 10 February 2023.
For full report, click hereUK ‘stop the boats’ policy raising risk of deadly crushes on dinghies, NGOs say – The Guardian.
Refugees are being crammed into boats on French beaches in ever-increasing numbers, human rights groups have said, leading to an increased risk of crushing and suffocation as a result of the UK’s “stop the boats” policy.
A seven-year-old girl is among at least eight people who have died of suffocation on a dinghy in the Channel in less than a year.
For full report, click here
‘Worrying deterioration in safety’ at UK immigration removal centres, warns chief inspector of prisons – The Guardian.
The chief inspector of prisons has warned that the safety of immigration removal centres across the country is deteriorating and that the government’s use of them is potentially traumatising vulnerable migrants.
Charlie Taylor said the “worrying deterioration in safety” at sites like Harmondsworth and Yarl’s Wood was a major “cause for concern”.
For full report, click here
Home Office urged to settle asylum claims over unlawful detention – The Guardian.
Asylum seekers are urging the Home Office to settle more than 100 claims for detaining them unlawfully at Manston, the controversial processing centre in Kent for people crossing the Channel on small boats.
If the mass claim is settled ministers will have to foot a hefty bill for the failures of the previous government, which could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. One mass claim involves 96 people, both adults and children. Other similar claims have also been lodged with the Home Office.
For full report, click here
Robert Jenrick focuses Tory leadership bid on promises to cut immigration – The Guardian.
Robert Jenrick has said he would hope to detain and deport people who arrive in the UK on small boats “within days” if he wins the Conservative leadership race and the next general election.
The former immigration minister said he was “open” to a cap restricting immigration to fewer than 10,000 people a year and shared his hopes of reimposing the Rwanda scheme.
For full report, click here
Home Office threatened to deport man likely to be key witness in Bibby Stockholm inquest – The Guardian.
The Home Office threatened to forcibly remove a man from the UK who is likely to be a key witness in the inquest of the asylum seeker who died on the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Leonard Farruku, 26, an asylum seeker from Albania, was found dead on the Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset, used by the Home Office to accommodate hundreds of asylum seekers, on 12 December last year. An inquest is scheduled to open into his death in September 2025.
For full report, click here
Case Law
B4 v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 900
This case concerns a British-born dual national who travelled to Syria in 2014 and fought with an Al-Qaeda-aligned group. In 2018, the Home Secretary revoked his British citizenship on national security grounds. The man appealed to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), which dismissed his appeal. He then took his case to the Court of Appeal, challenging SIAC’s decision on several grounds, including the fairness of the process and the level of scrutiny applied.
However, the Court of Appeal upheld SIAC’s ruling, finding that the Home Secretary’s decision was based on fair and balanced advice, and that SIAC had applied appropriate scrutiny. The appeal was ultimately dismissed, affirming the deprivation of the man’s British citizenship.
For full decision, visit here
Bail for Immigration Detainees v Information Commissioner [2024] UKFTT 714 (GRC)
An appeal was lodged by Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) against the Information Commissioner’s decision to uphold the Home Office’s refusal to disclose information about Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) for Eritrea and Somalia.
The Tribunal allowed BID’s appeal, finding that the public interest in disclosure outweighed the minimal risk of harm to international relations claimed by the Home Office. The Tribunal criticised the Home Office’s lack of engagement and the Commissioner’s acceptance of unsupported assertions. It ordered the Home Office to provide the requested information, emphasising the importance of transparency in immigration detention practices and the role of ETDs in removal decisions.
For full decision, click here
HOME OFFICE GUIDANCE AND DOCUMENTS POLICY UPDATES
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors students has been updated on 7th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors workers has been updated on 7th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Changes to the commercial partner visa application services has been updated on 7th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Promotional material: Online immigration status (eVisa): help videos has been updated on 6th August 2024. To view the updated Promotional material, click here
Guidance: Online immigration status (eVisa) has been updated on 6th 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 5th August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Promotional material: EU Settlement Scheme: information for status holders and applicants has been updated on 2nd August 2024. To view the updated Promotional material, click here
Guidance: Botswana tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 2nd August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Form: Apply for confirmation of British nationality status (form NS) has been updated on 2nd August 2024. To view the updated Form, click here
Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): EU Settlement Scheme -for applicants has been updated on 2nd August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: EU Settlement Scheme applying from outside the UK has been updated on 1st August 2024. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Transparency data: Ukraine Visa Schemes visa data has been updated on 1st August 2024. To view the updated Transparency data, click here
Written by Shareen Khan
STAY TUNED FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS NEXT WEEK!
