In our December 2023 round up, Colin and Sonia discuss the latest developments with Home Office evictions and withdrawals, as well as the new Rwanda legislation. We also cover the government’s five point plan to reduce net migration as well as the latest case law and Tribunal statistics.

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The 45 minute podcast follows the running order below.

Asylum (01:00)

What is in the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill?

“These guarantees already existed”: the UK’s new treaty with Rwanda

Home Secretary must set out plan to eliminate use of hotels for lone refugee children

Refugees can now claim Universal Credit without a biometric residence permit

Asylum withdrawals guidance amended to halve time given to explain non-attendance at interview

Family immigration (19:03)

Objective evidence must be considered when deciding “very significant obstacles” to integration

In-country settlement applications for children and the different sole responsibility requirements

What happens when relationships breakdown on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route?

General immigration (22:34)

Statement of changes HC 246: rules finally amended to provide for victims of transnational marriage abandonment

Supreme Court dismisses appeals in validity and continuous residence case

Government attack on families as minimum income requirement to rise to £38,700

What should UK employers make of the government’s five-point plan to reduce immigration?

EU settlement scheme (31:45)

Article 8 not automatically engaged by a refusal under the EU settlement scheme

Home Office unaware of the extent to which ‘mystery’ stamp has been used to grant entry to UK in error

Citizenship (34:55)

Deprivation of British citizenship without advance notice is lawful, says Upper Tribunal

Procedure (36:55)

Court of Session agrees restricting judicial reviews of the Upper Tribunal is lawful

Outstanding immigration tribunal appeals up 20% to 31,000

Court of Appeal: raising an entirely new issue in a determination for the first time is unfair

Detention (40:32)

Home Office criticised by High Court for “five very concerning features” of detention case

Are safeguards from the harm caused by immigration detention working?

Updated articles (43:16)

What is the no recourse to public funds condition?

Free Movement (44:00)

New OISC Level 2 training course in immigration and asylum law now available to members