Migration news roundup 12 August 2024

• Stories that inspired us this week
• International news
• UK borders and migration policy
• Specific migrant groups
• Cohesion and integration

Stories that inspired us this week

In an incredible gesture, the country's oldest mosque in Liverpool shared food with protesters and gave a tour inside. Chair of the mosque, Dr Abdul Hamid, said he wants a message of hope and coming together to spread. (Source: BBC) 

Following the nights of violent disruption, communities all over the country joined together to clean up their neighbourhoods, including in Middlesbrough, and Hull. (Sources: The Northern Echo, Hull Daily Mail) 

International news

Switzerland has plans to support some of its Ukrainian refugees by treating them as workers with language training and a simplified path to long-term employment. (Source: Ukrainian National News) 

In Germany, a Bavarian court ordered local authorities to provide alternatives to pre-paid payment cards issued to two people seeking asylum. However, these cases are not setting a new policy in relation to asylum seeker support payments. (Source: InfoMigrants) 

Recent data reveals migration to California has provided a significant boost to the state’s economy, resulting in new jobs, reduced employment vacancies, increased tax revenue and reduced pressure on the social security system. These benefits outweigh spending on state support to migrants. (Source: Los Angeles Times) 

UK borders and migration policy

This overview of the migrant population in the UK confirms that over 16% of the population was born overseas, with the top countries of birth as India, Poland, Pakistan, Romania and Ireland. The top reason for migration is to join family, followed by work. (Source: Migration Observatory) 

There has been a huge decrease in monthly applications for Health and Care Worker visas (81% fewer when comparing April to July 2023 and 2024), following the policy change in March 2024 to prevent workers bringing family members with them to the UK. The National Care Association commented that some staff had returned home or moved to countries with ‘a less hostile environment around immigration.’ (Sources: Home Office, BBC)  

Government issued a statement about how it has been responding to the organised violence around the country including standby police officers, mosques offered greater protection, and intelligence work. (Source: Prime Minister’s Office) 

New MPs can read this parliamentary briefing about immigration, asylum and nationality casework in their constituencies. (Source: House of Commons Library) 

All biometric resident permit (BRP) holders can now apply for an eVisa after the Home Office updated its eVisa guidance, without waiting for an invitation to apply, as had previously been the case. A video has been produced to help people to navigate the new system. However, applicants are reporting some technical issues, especially with older phone models. (Sources: Home Office, Free Movement)  

A new parliamentary briefing discusses the deportation of foreign nationals who have been convicted of an offence, a legal duty of the Home Secretary. (Source: House of Commons Library) 

Specific migrant groups

On asylum, as right wing attacks continued, over 100 organisations supporting people seeking asylum called on the Home Office to suspend in-person immigration reporting, including some in Yorkshire and Humber. (Source: Right to Remain) 

Newly published government data on homelessness shows there has been a huge rise in homelessness amongst refugees in the past year, from 1,690 households in Q1 2023 to 6,110 in Q1 2024 leaving Home Office accommodation and being owed a duty by the local authority in their area. Data is available at the local authority level. (Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)  

On EU nationals, this useful article provides an overview of recent changes affecting pre-settled status holders and the impact of changes on local authorities. Meanwhile, the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) issued a reminder to carriers about travel to the UK with an EU ID card, following issues experienced by EU nationals last summer. (Sources: NRPF Network, IMA) 

New official data shows for the 2022 to 2023 academic year, the UK welcomed a record high of over 750,000 overseas students. Indian students were the top nationality, surpassing China. University College London recorded the greatest number of international students. In contrast, sponsored student applications fell by 16% during January to July 2024 compared with the same period last year. A key influence is that students have been prevented from bringing dependants with them since January 2024. (Sources: The PIE Network, the Guardian) 

Cohesion and integration

During these difficult times, read this thoughtful analysis of the far-right riots in England. In particular, the article highlights how social media has enabled individuals to come together outside of traditional far right organisations, with decentralised, online ‘influencers’ as figureheads instead of formal leaders. (Source: the Guardian) 

Birmingham's Refugee and Migrant Centre released a video about what ‘Home’ means to its service users. The three-minute video features interviews where people were asked to describe a sense of home. (Source: RMC) 

Leeds has had a high level of antisemitic incidents reported in the first half of 2024, with higher figures only for London and Greater Manchester. Incidents have doubled across the UK to their highest levels reported to the Community Security Trust charity, who point to the 7 October attacks on Israel as the cause of this increase. (Source: Sky)