Reduction in Asylum Backlog Achieved Mainly Through Withdrawals and Questionnaires
In December 2022 the Prime Minister pledged to clear the ‘legacy’ backlog (claims made before 28 June 2022 when certain provisions of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 were brought into force) by the end of 2023. Yesterday he claimed that this goal had been achieved, despite the government’s statistics showing that there were still 4,537 of those cases outstanding at 28 December 2023.
Separate to the usual quarterly statistics release by the Home Office, monthly ‘ad hoc’ statistics loosely related to the Illegal Migration Act have been published since March last year. These have mainly focussed on small boat arrivals and the backlog clearance and were updated yesterday, to support the Prime Minister’s assertion. Those figures show that the overall backlog is smaller than it was a year ago as there were 135,959 applications pending at 31 December 2022 and this was 98,599 at 28 December 2023.
More decisions being made without a substantive interview
Read morea; Freemovement, https://shorturl.at/lIMY6
Government Doubles Down on Experimental Surveillance Tech to Track Migrants
‘Constantly on Edge’, the latest report on GPS tagging in immigration bail, has found that the Home Office has increased its use by 56% in the last year and is now using newer, experimental mobile fingerprint scanners to monitor migrants on bail, without effective safeguards in place. Users of the new ‘non-fitted’ scanner devices – supplied to the Ministry of Justice by Buddi under a £6 million contract - described the experience as a “type of torture” and spoke of feeling “constantly on edge”. The research comes a year after Public Law Project, Bail for Immigration Detainees, and Medical Justice published ‘Every move you make’ which revealed the ‘psychological torture’ caused by fitted GPS tracking devices.
Interviewees told researchers that the newer, non-fitted devices vibrate up to 10 times a day at random intervals, sometimes into the evening. If users are unable to scan their finger within a window of ‘around a minute’, they are considered to be in breach of their electronic monitoring bail condition. That breach is then reviewed by the Home Office. Researchers found that an automated system – the Electronic Monitoring Review Tool (EMRT) – is used to decide which device type will be issued and for how long the person will be required to use it. Authors Dr Jo Hynes and Mia Leslie of the Public Law Project say there is not enough transparency around how the EMRT works to be sure that the process is free of bias.
Read more: Bail for Immigratin Detainees, https://shorturl.at/csLVZ
End of Year Message From - Bail for Immigration Detainees
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the challenges and triumphs we've encountered. The past year has presented unprecedented hurdles, marking a critical turning point in the landscape of refugee rights and immigration policy in the UK.
The passing of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (NABA) has brought about a distressing reality for those seeking refuge in the UK. We have witnessed an escalating number of individuals, whose only wrongdoing was fleeing persecution, being convicted under this legislation and reaching out to us for assistance with bail applications from detention.
The impact of this, coupled with the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (IMA), has reshaped the asylum process, ushering in an era where the use of detention increasingly becomes the default position, and judicial oversight is curtailed.
These developments have undeniably challenged the post-war consensus on granting refuge to those in need and have raised concerns about the UK's compliance with international human rights and refugee law.
The Rwanda scheme has faced legal roadblocks, prompting uncertainties about the future of asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats or third countries. Alongside this, a staggering backlog of over 138,100 pending asylum cases has led to inadequate and often deplorable accommodations, highlighting the dire consequences of delayed processing and a collapse in legal aid.
Even in the face of these disheartening circumstances, the resilience and commitment of our team and supporters have been unwavering. The achievements below, from our latest reporting year (Jul 2022/ Aug 2023), are a testament to our collective dedication. Together we:
1)Provided free legal advice to 1,690 individuals and answered 7,221 calls to our advice line.
2) Supported 114 parents or carers separated from 238 children.
3) Secured 334 grants of bail, with an astonishing success rate of 86%.
4) Delivered legal advice surgeries in prisons/removal centres attended by 421 individuals.
Received exceptional feedback from our beneficiaries, with 100% rating our work as "excellent," "very helpful," or "helpful," affirming the impact of our efforts. Your unwavering support, whether as part of our staff team, as trustees, volunteers, pro bono barristers, donors, supporters, or funders, is instrumental in upholding our values and driving positive change amidst adversity. We extend our deepest gratitude to all of you for your dedication and hard work.
In the face of the challenges that lie ahead, we stand firmly in solidarity with our clients resolute in our commitment to justice, dignity, and compassion. Thank you for standing with us.
In solidarity, Team Bail for Immigration Detainees
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10 Conflicts to Watch in 2024
Gaza, Wider Middle East War, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Ethiopia, The Sahel, Haiti, Armenia-Azerbaijan, U.S.-China: More leaders are pursuing their ends militarily. More believe they can get away with it.
Can we stop things falling apart? 2024 begins with wars burning in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine and peacemaking in crisis. Worldwide, diplomatic efforts to end fighting are failing. More leaders are pursuing their ends militarily. More believe they can get away with it.
War has been on the rise since about 2012, after a decline in the 1990s and early 2000s. First came conflicts in Libya, Syria and Yemen, triggered by the 2011 Arab uprisings. Libya’s instability spilled south, helping set off a protracted crisis in the Sahel region. A fresh wave of major combat followed: the 2020 Azerbaijani-Armenian war over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, horrific fighting in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region that began weeks later, the conflict prompted by the Myanmar army’s 2021 power grab and Russia’s 2022 assault on Ukraine. Add to those 2023’s devastation in Sudan and Gaza. Around the globe, more people are dying in fighting, being forced from their homes or in need of life-saving aid than in decades.
On some battlefields peacemaking is non-existent or going nowhere. The Myanmar junta and the officers who have seized power in the Sahel are bent on crushing rivals. In Sudan, perhaps today’s worst war in sheer numbers of people killed and displaced, U.S.- and Saudi-led diplomatic efforts were muddled and half-hearted for months. Russian President Vladimir Putin, banking on dwindling Western support for Kyiv, seeks to force Ukraine to surrender and demilitarise – conditions that are understandably unpalatable for Ukrainians. In all these places, diplomacy, such as it is, has been about managing the fallout: negotiating humanitarian access or prisoner exchanges, or striking deals such as the one that got Ukrainian grain onto global markets via the Black Sea. These efforts, while vital, are no substitute for political talks.
Read more: Crisis Grop, https://shorturl.at/bjANT
No-Deportation - Financial Appeal 2024 - The Times They Are Inflating
Come gather around people wherever you roam
And admit that prices around us have grown
And accept that that soon we all will be skint to the bone
Help Keep the No-Deportation Boat Afloat
We need to raise £2,500 to keep No-Deportations going until the end of 2024
Best Way If you can, take out a Standing Order for £5 a month
If not feasible, give thought to making a small donation of £5 - £10 - £15 - £20 - £25
January through December this year, 2023, has been the worst year ever for those seeking safety in European Countries, with untimely deaths, poverty, detention, imprisonment, homelessness and hopelessness.
Proposed New Immigration legislation will attempt to stop all new arrivals and any that do arrive will be given short shrift.
There has been a change in how monies can be paid to small groups that do charitable work. The bank that used to hold the named account,' No-Deportation', closed the account as it did all of their charitable accounts. As a result, we lost 95% of our Standing orders and were unable to get them back. (See below: Access to Bank Accounts for Charitable Organisations)
So, any donations to No-Deportations will have to be made to John O's account; this is just an account for donations for the work of No-Deportations.
If donating, please use a bank transfer *Details at the end of message
In Solidarity, John O for 'No-Deportations'
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[EDM 261 Access to Bank Accounts for Charitable Organisations
EDM (Early Day Motion) 261: tabled on 07 July 2022, by Barry Sheerman MP for Huddersfield
That this House notes the brilliant work of the charitable sector and the positive impact charities have on communities across the country;
recognises that charities must be supported to thrive and the unique role Government plays in creating the conditions by which the third sector can flourish;
further notes that charities require access to finance and bank accounts so they can operate in the public interest;
is therefore concerned about reports that charities are finding it increasingly difficult to access banking services;
believes that if these difficulties are left unresolved the delivery of charity services will be at risk;
and calls on the Government to work with banks, UK Finance and third-sector groups to solve the issues experienced by charities and ensure they have access to financial services that are crucial for their running.]
There has not been a response from the Government to above
As a result, small groups that do charitable work, now have to use personal accounts to raise funds to continue working.
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Please note that due to new rules by banks, you can no longer set up 'Trustee Accounts', which has been the normal way of appealing for funds for charitable work.
Take out a 'Standing order' to Support the work of 'No-Deportations.'
'Standing orders are the best way to support 'No-Deportations', which provides regular monthly income.
If you take out a standing order, please notify "No-Deportations' of the date the standing order is to start and the amount.
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*To take out a standing order from your bank to 'No Deportations' - Or donate by Direct Bank Transfer for No-Deportations, the following is the information you will have to give to your bank.
Your Reference: Donation to No-Deportations
Account John O
Santander Unit 6, Caxton Gate Corporation St Birmingham B2 4LP
Sort Code 09 01 34
Account Number: 68461604
If you donate by bank transfer or standing order, please notify "No-Deportations' of the amount so we can send a receipt.
no-deportations@no-deportations.org.uk
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With thanks,
John O for 'No-Deportations'
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