Amnesty by any other Name Still Smells Sweet

"They are Americans in their heart, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper," President Obama said in announcing the new policy in the White House Rose Garden on Friday. He said he was taking "a temporary stopgap measure" that would "lift the shadow of deportation from these young people" and make immigration policy "more fair, more efficient and more just."

Obama to end deportation for young undocumented migrants
A major announcement by the Obama administration: by executive order, the president will end the deportation of certain young undocumented immigrants - making an estimated 800,000 young people now safe. The order will stop the deportation of undocumented immigrants under 30 years old who came to the US before their 16th birthdays.

To benefit from the protection, they must have lived in the US continuously for five years, have no criminal record or have graduated from high school or served in the military. They are eligible for two-year work permits, renewable indefinitely. The act does not provide a path to citizenship.
Read More: Guardian, 16/06/12

Iraq: 500,000 people live in squatter settlements
The 2006 bombing of Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra launched a wave of sectarian violence that precipitated the displacement of 1.6 million Iraqis. In the six years that have passed since the Sa-marra bombing, few of those IDPs have returned home, leading to a situation of prolonged displacement that has put pressure on host communities throughout the country. Lack of adequate shelter is one of the most pressing problems affecting displaced Iraqis and host communities alike.
Reliefweb, 15/06/12

ARC: Commentary on the UKBA May DR Congo OGN
This commentary identifies what the 'Still Human Still Here' coalition considers to be the main inconsistencies and omissions between the currently available country of origin information (COI) and case law on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the conclusions reached in the May 2012 DRC Operational Guidance Note (OGN). Where we believe inconsistencies have been identified, the relevant section of the OGN is highlighted in blue.
http://www.asylumresearchconsultancy.com/

EDM 184: Persecution of Ahwazi Arabs in Iran
That this House is appalled by the persecution and discrimination faced by the Ahwazi Arabs in the south-west Khuzestan region of Iran by the authorities in Tehran that has resulted in high levels of poverty, illiteracy and child malnutrition not seen elsewhere in Iran; expresses serious concern that the Iranian security forces have targeted government critics within the community, subjected them to torture and forced them to face secret and biased trials in revolutionary courts; condemns the reporting of confessions of those who have been held in custody without access to lawyers and who are likely to have been tortured; welcomes the recent Foreign and Commonwealth Office report on Iran highlighting the Iranian government's discriminatory practices and violence against Ahwazi Arabs and other ethnic minorities; is mindful of the non-implementation of the recommendations made by the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on Iran of 2010 that call for the guarantee of the protection of the civil and political rights of all, particularly dissidents and members of minority groups and the end of torture and secret detention; and calls on the Government to encourage the relevant Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council to seek invitations for the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, to visit Arab districts unimpeded and interview Ahwazi Arab political prisoners without the presence of government officials and security personnel.
Sponsors: Russell, Bob / Durkan, Mark Date tabled: 12/06/2012

UKBA: Operational Guidance Note: Afghanistan
Publication Date June 2012
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4fd731b62.html

Burma: Protect Muslim, Buddhist Communities at Risk
Deadly violence in Arakan State is spiraling out of control under the government's watch. The government of Burma should take all necessary steps to protect communities at risk in Arakan State after violence between Buddhists and Muslims in western Burma left an unknown number dead. The government has taken inadequate steps to stop sectarian-violence between Arakan Buddhists and ethnic Rohingya Muslims, or to bring those responsible to justice.
Read more: Human Rights Watch, 11/06/12

Asylum Research Consultancy (ARC) COI update volume 36
This document provides an update of Country Guidance case law, UKBA publications and developments in refugee producing countries between 28/05/2012 and 11/06/2012. Download volume 36 here . . .

Burmese army moves in after seven die in religious clashes
Burma's President declared a state of emergency yesterday in a western state where tensions between Buddhists and Muslims have unleashed deadly violence. The move follows rioting on Friday in two areas of Rakhine that state media say left at least seven people dead and 17 wounded. Hundreds of houses were burnt down and the unrest spread over the weekend. State television had earlier announced that a 6pm-to-6am curfew had been imposed in Rakhine's capital, Sittwe, and three other townships.
Indpendent, Monday 11 June 2012

"Hope and Resilience for Refugees and Asylum Seekers"
On 19 June 2012, the University of Leicester, in conjunction with a range of refugee and voluntary sector organisations across the East Midlands, will be hosting "Hope and Resilience for Refugees and Asylum Seekers", a one-day conference that will explore how hope and resilience can be fostered in the current climate through an emphasis on human rights, approaches to justice in psychological therapy, and through building solidarity in the voluntary and statutory sector.

More information on the conference is available here . . . .

Romania: Cconcerns About Relocation of Roma to Toxic Building

European Union Commissioner Nils Muiznieks expressed deep concern about the evictions of more than 300 Roma families and their relocation to buildings formerly owned by a disused chemical factory in the Romanian city of Baia Mare. Reportedly, 22 children and two adults had to be taken to hospital for intoxication due to contacts with toxic substances left in the buildings.

In an interview with AFP, the Commissioner said that the action taken by the authorities of Baia Mare not only breaches the right of Roma to adequate housing but also put their right to life at serious risk.

"The relocation into the former chemical factory buildings is clearly not an adequate, alternative housing solution. An effective investigation should be conducted by the Romanian authorities to establish the responsibilities for any damage caused to the health of the people concerned. These people should be provided with reparation."
The Commissioner called on the Mayor of Baia Mare to ensure that the families concerned are promptly moved to adequate accommodation, where there is no threat for their health and where they are not segregated from the majority population. He also stressed that any relocation should be done in consultation and agreement with the people concerned.

The Commissioner will continue to follow the developments of the situation and intends to raise this issue in the framework of his ongoing dialogue with the authorities.
Nils Muiznieks, Commissioner for Human Rightrs, 07/06/12

"Hope and Resilience for Refugees and Asylum Seekers"
On 19 June 2012, the University of Leicester, in conjunction with a range of refugee and voluntary sector organisations across the East Midlands, will be hosting "Hope and Resilience for Refugees and Asylum Seekers", a one-day conference that will explore how hope and resilience can be fostered in the current climate through an emphasis on human rights, approaches to justice in psychological therapy, and through building solidarity in the voluntary and statutory sector.

More information on the conference is available here . . . .

Iraq: AI condemns killings of pilgrims during Shi'a festival
A wave of bombings and other attacks in several Iraqi provinces including a number of locations in Baghdad that reportedly killed at least 55 people and wounded dozens during a major Shi'a religious festival has been condemned by Amnesty International. At least 18 people were reportedly killed by several bombs across Baghdad as Shi'a pilgrims gathered to mark the anniversary of the death of the imam Moussa al-Kadhim, a great-grandson of the prophet Muhammad.

Violence in Iraq has increased considerably since the last US soldiers left the country in December 2011. In January 2012, at least 55 civilians were killed in suicide bombs and other attacks across the country. There has been a wave of attacks on the Shi'a community in recent days, including on Sunday when six people were killed in a mortar attack in a square filled with Shi'a pilgrims.
Reliefweb 13/06/12

India: Abuses, Killings, Torture by Border Force Increasing
The Border Security Force has reverted to its previous tactics of unilaterally punishing suspects, defying orders from Delhi issued last year to exercise restraint and protect the right to life. But the central government is also responsible, since it has failed to hold perpetrators accountable. Justice is the best deterrent against further violations.

Despite assurances to the Bangladesh government and public orders to exercise restraint and end unlawful killings and attacks on suspected smugglers, evidence documented and published by Indian and Bangladeshi nongovernmental organizations suggest that the BSF is once again committing abuses including extrajudicial killings, torture, and ill-treatment of both Indian and Bangladeshi border residents.
Read more: Human Rights Watch, 11th June 2012

Playing politics with immigration
When all else fails, there's always immigration. That is how many people will respond to Theresa May's apparent determination to bounce this perennially toxic issue to the top of the agenda by flagging up ambitious, but probably unworkable, plans to slash the numbers coming into this country through a range of curbs on citizens' rights to bring in non-EU family members and spouses.

The Home Secretary seems positively anxious for a punch-up. Insisting that the right to a family life as interpreted under the European Convention on Human Rights is being abused, and is not an absolute right but requires qualification, she is courting a battle, both with the judges as well as with organisations like the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.
Read More: Independent, 11,/06/12

Stark choice under new immigration rules: exile or family breakup

Home secretary Theresa May briefs MPs on changes that may disqualify non-EU partners from UK family visas

Home secretary Teresa May faces criticism from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants over rule changes which would mean British citizens 'effectively exiled on account of choosing to have a relationship with a non-EEA national'.

British citizens with foreign-born partners are to be given the choice of indefinite "exile" in countries including Yemen and Syria or face the breakup of their families if they want to remain in the UK, under radical immigration changes to be announced next week, MPs have been told.

The home secretary, Theresa May, is expected to confirm that she will introduce a new minimum income requirement for a British "sponsor" without children of up to £25,700 a year, and a stringent English speaking test for foreign-born husbands, wives or partners of UK citizens applying to come to live in Britain on a family visa.
Alan Travis, guardian.co.uk, Friday 8 June 2012

ILPA Immigration updates 48

· Crime and Courts Bill (HL Bill 4) pages 2/3

· Justice and Security Bill (HL Bill 27) page 4/5

· Family Visit Visa Appeals pages 6/7 (providing information about the Government's intention to remove appeal rights in family visit visa cases)

· MK (Tunisia) Judgment page 8/9 (providing information about the specific case and the Government's intention to reverse the Court's judgment so as to allow the Home Secretary to take away the leave to remain of a refugee or other migrant when he or she is outside the UK and then block his or her return to the UK)

They are all available at:
http://www.ilpa.org.uk/pages/info-service.html

UKBA: Country of Origin Information Report - Pakistan

Publication Date 7 June 2012 -Download from below:
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4fd1fa252.html