Free Movement Weekly Immigration Newsletter #74

Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter!

Just spotted this – a challenge has gone in on the pause to settlement applications from Syrian refugees. I have been saying for a while that I think this is where the stronger challenge is with the pause, given the different test at settlement stage, let alone the article 8 considerations. One to watch. 

It’s time for the big one – the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has launched a call for evidence for their latest inspection of asylum casework. The deadline is 2 July and with Home Office decision making about as bad as it’s ever been (that I can remember anyway) it is crucial that the inspectors are provided with as much evidence as possible. Lawyers in particular will have something useful to contribute on that point as well as on the other areas. It is always tough asking for anything extra from those working in legal aid but please do try to make time for this one, either to feed in yourselves or via ILPA if you are a member. 

Yesterday was Windrush Day, which seems to have prompted the announcement that a Windrush Commissioner, Reverend Clive Foster MBE, has finally been appointed. Patrick Vernon, who long campaigned for the national day, has called for a statutory public inquiry into what happened. People are still fighting for their citizenship and it does not appear that there is any impetus on the part of the government to resolve the ongoing failings of the compensation scheme. A proper inquiry may be the best hope of achieving change for all those people who are still dealing with the repercussions of the scandal today.

On Free Movement, not one but two of our members’ online training courses have been updated. The course on the asylum process in the UK has been updated by Daniel Rourke and judicial review for immigration lawyers (a personal favourite of mine) has been updated by Jed Pennington and Gabriel Tan. 

On the blog, it was refugee week and so we updated and republished our posts on rights under the Refugee Convention, making complex family reunion applications, the difference between refugee status and humanitarian protection, whether refugees are obliged to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach, and the current state of “safe and legal” alternatives to attempting a Channel crossing. Also, the new Macdonald’s Immigration Law and Practice is out and this nerd is very excited about it! 

Finally, h/t to Glen Hodgetts for flagging up that the Home Secretary has been granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in the deprivation of citizenship case of Kolicaj, as previously anticipated. For everything else on Free Movement and elsewhere, read on.

Cheers, Sonia

What we’re reading

Earned Settlement and Citizenship: The pursuit of virtue in the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ – Nationality and Citizenship Law, 23 June

This housing project claims it could save Labour millions on housing asylum seekers in hotels – Big Issue, 9 June

Post-Brexit youth visa scheme with EU given green light in major step towards closer ties with the bloc – Independent, 21 June

Tighter immigration rules could hit UK net zero mission, report warns – The Guardian, 17 June

UK Home Office tells parents their children should return to Brazil alone – The Guardian, 18 June

French plans to stop small boats will lead to more deaths, says charity – The Guardian, 20 June

Calls to reform family visa rules as Brits face being split up from partners – Independent, 23 June

Immigration Policies Could Produce Another Windrush Generation, Labour MP Warns – PoliticsHome, 22 June

No Way Home: It is time to remove management of immigration from the Home Office – Carla Denyer, 17 June

I tried the test to become British citizen and left with a bigger question – Birmingham Live, 21 June

American man raised in Cornwall says his life is in ‘limbo’ after being denied citizenship – Cornwall Live, 20 June