Rishi Sunak Announces New New Plan For Asylum
Rishi Sunak has announced a number of measures to address the government’s self-made asylum backlog. The tone of Sunak’s statement was more measured than the sometimes rather unhinged rhetoric to which we have become accustomed, although he still introduced the topic as being about “illegal immigration”. There were no attacks on lawyers, for example. Or tofu. In that respect, it is welcome. The details of the new new plan for asylum do not seem likely to deliver, though, and the repeated singling out of Albanians is a very worrying development.
Morality not impact - Sunak began by saying that “any solution should be not just what works but what is right”. This is an interesting yardstick by which to measure government policy. It suggests that a policy which fails to achieve its purpose might still be ‘correct’ in some way. This is surely a reference to the Rwanda plan and other recent measures, which no-one now seems to think will actually deter people from coming to the United Kingdom. It can also be read as a reference to the hostile environment suite of laws. These have had no discernible impact on immigration. Indeed, voluntary departures actually fell considerably from 2016 onwards. But some consider it morally right to deny services to migrants, even if that just has the effect of leaving them destitute and vulnerable within our borders and it increases race discrimination against not just migrants but also black Britons.
Read more: Freemovement, https://rb.gy/iqzxr9
Home Office Bank Account Closure Plan Causing Havoc
One of the measures announced by Rishi Sunak in his asylum statement on 13 December 2022 was the re-starting of hostile environment immigration checks on bank accounts. These checks were introduced by the Immigration Act 2016 but were paused by Sajid Javid in 2018 when he was Home Secretary. There was no consultation on Sunak’s plan and it seems to herald government disengagement from the ongoing Windrush Lessons Learned Review process.
These banking checks are extremely controversial. The Immigration Act 2014 already required banks to conduct immigration checks before opening a new account. This already proves problematic for refugees and students in particular, but at least it does not involve losing something you already have. Having your existing bank account closed on you is a whole new level of catastrophe. Imagine it. With no notice, you suddenly cannot make or receive any payments. The only money you have now is whatever was in your wallet. You cannot buy food, travel or pay rent. Your phone will soon run out of credit. You cannot pay a lawyer to try and sort things out, either, because you have no money.
Some people will say this is fine if those affected are illegal immigrants with no right to be here. Personally, I disagree with this. These sorts of measures force people into destitution and leave them open to exploitation. There is no evidence that they actually persuade or force people out of the country, though. They make life hard and marginal, but not that hard and marginal. Voluntary departures from the UK have actually plummeted since 2016. I am not OK with a measure that is supposedly about immigration actually having no immigration impact, just a disastrous social and economic one.
Read more: Freemovement, https://rb.gy/fjwqtf
Immigration Home Office Discrimination Against Palestinian Refugees
R (on the application of Toraane and another) (AP) (Appellants) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondents) - UKSC 2021/0195. On appeal from the Court of Appeal Civil Division (England and Wales)
The scheme resettles in the UK those vulnerable refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria and who are referred to the scheme by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the “UNHCR”). The appellants are Palestinian refugees from Syria who, by virtue of being Palestinian, are excluded from the mandate of the UNHCR and so effectively excluded from being resettled under the Scheme.
The appellants challenged the Scheme on the ground that it unlawfully discriminated against them as Palestinians, contrary to section 29(6) of the EA 2010, and that the Home Secretary had failed to have due regard to its equality implications when setting up the Scheme, contrary to section 149(1) of the EA 2010.
The Court of Appeal held that while section 29(6) had extraterritorial effect, such that there was indirect discrimination against the appellants, that discrimination was justified. It also held that section 149(1) did not have extraterritorial effect. The Appellants now seek to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The issues are:
The Home Secretary’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme indirectly discriminates against Palestinian refugees from Syria. This gives rise to three issues.
(1) Is that discrimination justified?
(2) Is that discrimination irrational?
(3) Does section 149(1) of the Equality Act (the “EA 2010”), which requires public authorities to have due regard to equality issues, apply outside of the UK?
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Transfer of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children to the UK
The Government met its one-off statutory commitment to transfer 480 unaccompanied asylum seeking-children (UASC) from Europe to the UK under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
In addition to the many unaccompanied children who are being cared for, we have been dealing with significant numbers of children crossing the Channel on small boats.
Generally, UASC enter the care system as looked after children. The latest published statistics from the Department for Education, for the year ending 31 March 2022, show there were 5,540 UASC being cared for in England alone, an increase of 34% from the previous reporting year. This does not include the high intake seen this summer.
This sharp increase has placed significant pressure on local authorities and it is important that we focus on ensuring that we can take care of those children already in the UK. At this moment, bringing in additional unaccompanied children from Europe would not be in the best interests of those children already being cared for in the UK.
Parliamnt, https://rb.gy/jk8qfm
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No-Deportations – Residence Papers for All
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Financial Appeal for 'No-Deportations' - 2023
If you can, take out a Standing Order for £5 a month
2022 has been the worst year for those seeking safety in the UK, with untimely deaths, destitution, detention, imprisonment, homelessness and hopelessness.
And Suella Braverman, the UK’s Homicidal Home Secretary, has avered that 2003 will see more of the same
From January through December 2022, we sent out over 260 Legal Briefings to all recipients and over 500 articles on asylum/immigration.
'No-Deportations' provides 'Signposting' to anyone in the UK subject to UK immigration controls and does not want to leave the UK for whatever reasons. Whether they fear returning to their country of origin for political reasons, fear of religious/ethnic persecution, would face persecution for their gender preferences, or wish to remain in the UK for economic reasons, in that they can get a better standard of living for their families/themselves, can send remittances back to their families in the country of origin.
To this end, 'No-Deportations' sources up-to-date reports on conditions in countries which are a source of people travelling to the UK for asylum, political, gender, religious, and economic reasons.
Provides up-to-date UK immigration case law, rulings of UK Immigration Courts/Tribunals, UK Supreme Court, European Court of Human Rights, and European Court of Justice that may benefit those UKBA are trying to remove/deport from the UK.
Where those subject to UK immigration controls have fallen foul of those controls and are required to leave the UK. 'No-Deportations' helps families/individuals/campaigners set up Anti-Deportation Campaigns and will try to find alternate legal avenues for them to remain in the UK.
We do not give legal advice or provide legal advice but will read persons' UKBA documents refusing them leave to remain in the UK and 'signpost' accordingly.
All information is provided free to anyone seeking help without fear or favour.
In Solidarity,
John O for 'No-Deportations'
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[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 smal 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.
Download the Standing order here
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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
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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 that we can send a receipt.
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You can donate to 'No-Deportations'' by cheque:
Very important to make the cheque out to 'John O' and post it to"
No-Deportations
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With thanks,
John O for 'No-Deportations'
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