News Update – 10th April 2026
This week – new data regarding fatalities among young asylum seekers in care, the detention of age-disputed children under the government’s removal scheme, a procurement dispute concerning Kent’s migrant processing facilities, and the release of a comprehensive overview of the asylum system.
Data compiled for the first time by the Da’aro Youth Project has revealed that more than 50 unaccompanied young asylum seekers have died in the UK since 2015. Of the 54 deaths recorded between 2015 and 2024, 31 were suicides, seven were homicides, and eight were fatal accidents. 44 of those deaths have occurred since 2020, with 2024 proving to be the worst year on record. Six of the suicides involved children aged 17 or under. The data was gathered through Freedom of Information Requests to local authority children’s services across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The report has been sent to ministers including the education secretary and the immigration minister, and calls for the publication of death data, a national review, and a new safeguarding strategy for this group. It is a stark reminder of the human cost of an asylum system under immense strain, and of the vulnerabilities faced by unaccompanied minors in the care system.
Separately, research by the Humans for Rights Network has identified 76 age-disputed children who have been detained in adult detention centres since the government’s “one in, one out” removals scheme. Under the scheme, each small boat arrival can be forcibly returned to France in exchange for another person being brought to the UK through a legal route. Of the 76 identified, 26 children have since been released into the care of children’s social services, where they are being assessed or have already been confirmed as children. One child removed to France under the scheme was later determined to be a minor by social workers. As recently as 25 March 2026, the High Court halted the removal of two age-disputed children to France. Age assessment remains one of the most contentious areas in UK immigration practice, with freedom of information data repeatedly showing that many individuals initially assessed as adults by the Home Office, are later found to be children following local authority assessments.
The Home Office is facing High Court proceedings over the award of a £462.6 million contract to manage the Western Jet Foil facility in Dover and the Manston processing centre in Kent. Mitie Care and Custody, the unsuccessful bidder, is suing the department after the contract was awarded to MTC Definitive. The claim centres on a possible conflict of interest; MTC’s head of development, formerly deputy director of Manston, allegedly accessed sensitive information. The Home Office has called the claim unfounded, noting a 12-month ban on related commercial activity.
We close the week with the release of the latest annual report from Asylum Information Database (AIDA) country. The report offers a comprehensive overview of UK asylum law, policy and practice as of 31st December 2025. Key findings in this report include a rise in Channel crossings during 2025 despite the returns agreement with France, asylum applications exceeding 100,000, a continued fall in the first-instance recognition rate, and a sharp increase in appeals, suggesting the backlog has shifted from the Home Office into the tribunal system. The report also notes concerns about the quality of Home Office decision-making, with a significant proportion of refusals being overturned on appeal.
On the legislative front, it records the repeal of the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024 and parts of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, alongside new policy measures including the introduction of a visa brake and changes to the length of leave granted to recognised refugees.
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For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, see our Immigration News Update SEE BELOW
Immigration News
Home Office sued over migrant sites’ contract bid – BBC News
The Home Office has denied there was a “conflict of interest” when it awarded a £462.6m deal to manage sites used to process migrants arriving in the UK on small boats. Mitie Care and Custody, a subsidiary of Mitie Group, are suing the department after the contract for two Kent sites, Western Jet Foil in Dover and the Manston processing centre, went to MTC Definitive. To view the full article, visit here
More than 50 young asylum seekers have died in UK since 2015 – The Guardian
More than 50 young asylum seekers in the UK have died in the past decade, the majority by suicide, according to data compiled for the first time. Of 54 deaths of unaccompanied children and young people who claimed asylum between 2015 and 2024 in the care system, 31 were suicides, seven were homicides and eight were fatal accidents. Six deaths were due to health issues and in two cases the cause of death was unknown. To view the full article, visit here
Charity cleared after false claims online over migrant welcome project – The Guardian
A refugee charity subjected to vicious social media attacks over a migrant welcome project in schools has been cleared of wrongdoing. Watchdog found allegations it encouraged pupils to send Valentine’s Day cards to asylum seekers were misleading and false. City of Sanctuary UK came under fire last year after rumours spread online that under its school’s programme, children were being “forced” to write heart-shaped welcome cards to adult migrants, including cards addressed to “my fiancé ”. To view the full article, visit here
UK has detained 76 ‘age-disputed’ children under one in, one out scheme – The Guardian
More than 70 children from various conflict zones, whose ages were disputed by the Home Office have been held in detention centres in the UK in preparation for forced removal to France under the Government’s “one in, one out” scheme, research shows. The one in, one out initiative means each small boat arrival can be forcibly returned to France in exchange for another person, who has not attempted the crossing being brought to the UK legally. To view the full article, visit here
Ministers working with Labour backbenchers to temper Mahmood immigration plans – The Guardian
A number of ministers concerned about Shabana Mahmood’s immigration changes are working behind the scenes with backbenchers to secure more exemptions. Downing Street sources said it had always been the case that the changes were subject to consultation, including the retrospective element which, as it stands, would mean people who have entered the UK in the last five years would need to wait longer to be given settlement. To view the full article, visit here
Four people dead after small boat capsizes in Channel crossing attempt – Sky News
Four people have died after attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat, French local authorities have confirmed Thursday 9 April 2026. See here
Two dead and one missing after trying to cross Channel to UK – The Guardian
Two people have died and another is missing after trying to cross the Channel from France to the UK on Wednesday morning. It is the first fatal incident in the Channel this year. The deaths occurred just hours after an interim £16.2m “stop the boats” deal was agreed between the UK and France which will be in place until May. Negotiations will continue for a longer-term deal to replace the previous three-year deal, which expired last week. To view the full article, visit here
Reform would deny visas over calls for slavery reparations – BBC News
Reform UK has said it would deny new visas to people from countries seeking slavery reparations from Britain, if it formed the next Government. Nigel Farage’s party said this would apply to any country developing a formal approach and the ban would cover all visa types, including ones for visitors and work. To view the full article, visit here
Independent Reports
Country Report, authored by Sonia Lenegan, published by The Asylum Information Database (AIDA).
The Asylum Information Database’s 2025 report finds UK asylum applications topped 100,000 last year as Channel crossings grew. First-instance approval rates declined, shifting a backlog to tribunals, and many Home Office refusals were overturned on appeal. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 repealed previous laws and introduced policies like the “visa brake” and shorter refugee leave. The report also notes fewer hotels for asylum seekers, more large sites, and immigration detention rising to nearly 23,000 people. To download the full report, visit here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Update
Guidance: Common travel area (immigration staff guidance) has been updated on 9th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Ukrainian nationals in the UK visa support has been updated on 9th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Caseworker Guidance: Further submissions has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Immigration Rules archive: 26 March 2026 to 1 April 2026 has been published on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Caseworker Guidance: EU Settlement Scheme has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors workers has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: India Young Professionals Scheme visa ballot system has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Indefinite leave to remain if you represent an overseas business has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Fees for citizenship applications has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Global Business Mobility routes caseworker guidance has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Caseworker Guidance Ukraine Permission Extension scheme has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Caseworker Guidance: Application validation, variation and withdrawal has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Case Worker Guidance: Skilled Worker visa has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Sponsor a worker: sponsor guidance part 2 has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Sponsor Guidance: Workers and Temporary Workers: sponsor an International Sportsperson has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Sponsor guidance appendix A: supporting documents for sponsor applications has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a Government Authorised Exchange Worker has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Sponsor an International Agreement worker has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Sponsor a Skilled Worker has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a Minister of Religion or religious worker has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Worker and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a Creative Worker has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Sponsor a seasonal worker has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a Charity Worker has been updated on 8th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Detention case progression panels has been updated on 7th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Appendix HM Armed Forces: caseworker guidance has been updated on 7th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Caseworker Guidance Travel documents-no time limit has been updated on 7th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance Albania: country policy and information notes has been updated on 7th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Student sponsor guidance has been updated on 7th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Caseworker Guidance: Registering children as British citizens has been updated on 7th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Guidance: Illegal working penalties: UK report has been updated on 7th April 2026. To view the updated Guidance, visit here
Written by Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
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.