Migration news roundup 17 June 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

Leon, a 12-year-old boy whose father is from Cambodia, tells the story of how his family came to the UK, escaping genocide. (Source: Refugee week)

On Thursday (20.6.2024) Bradford residents will have the opportunity to hear what it means to have to flee your home, in conversations held as part of the Refugee Week UNHCR Cuppa Hope pop-up café (Source: Telegraph and Argus).

International news

Recent United Nations data reveals that worldwide migration has more than doubled over the past decade, as record numbers of people flee their countries to escape the effects of war, climate change and political persecution. As of the beginning of 2024 there are 120 million people displaced worldwide. (Source: Sky news)  

The Portuguese government presented a new migration plan aimed at prioritising entry for young professionals, skilled labourers, and family reunifications, while tackling a backlog of over 400,000 cases. Also in Europe, Poland reintroduced an ‘exclusion zone’ along its border with Belarus, preventing ‘unauthorised people’ from travelling within 200 metres of the border. These measures were announced following the stabbing of a Polish border agent. (Sources: European Commission, Notes from Poland)

UK borders and migration policy

At least 79 people seeking asylum have been released on bail, after being detained as part of Home Office efforts to complete removals to Rwanda last month. Meanwhile, the Rwandan government have accused the UNHCR of ‘lying,’ after lawyers representing the international body told a British Court that there was new evidence that there is a real risk of refugees being relocated by Rwanda to countries where they are at serious risk.  In other news, a group of people seeking asylum who were relocated to Rwanda by the UK have spoken about the lack of appropriate care available to meet their trauma-related needs, in Rwanda. The individuals were relocated via Diego Garcia Island, an overseas UK territory which has been holding a group of Tamil asylum seekers who arrived from Sri Lanka. (Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera)

The High Court has found that the Home Office has acted unlawfully by failing to provide people with digital proof of status where they have made a valid, in-time application to renew their status and are able to remain in the UK under the same conditions until they receive a decision. The judge said that ‘Hostile Environment’ policies were wrongly being applied to people who had valid leave, with the case highlighting issues faced by people receiving disability benefits who were unable to continue to claim benefit. (Source: Free Movement)

On visas and migrant labour, a new briefing from the Migration Observatory looks at migrants and the labour market. One fifth of the labour force is made up on foreign born workers, with the IT, transport and hospitality sectors particularly dependent on migrant labour. Elsewhere, care home owners talk about the challenges they face without being able to recruit foreign care staff. (Sources: Migration Observatory, BBC News)

A new interim Chief Inspector for Borders and Immigration, David Bolt, has been appointed to complete ongoing inspection work until a new permanent appointment is made. (Source: ICIBI)

Over 11,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year.  That’s 46% higher than the previous year. Also on small boats, two men are in court facing extradition to France over their involvement in a Channel crossing event that led to the death of five people, including a child. (Sources: BBC News, Evening Standard)

Specific migrant groups

On asylum, this article and video footage reveals the conditions inside the asylum accommodation site at Wethersfield. (Source: Independent)

All refugees that were previously resettled in Skipton and Settle have now left the area according to the council. Reasons for moving include cheaper rental rates and seeking to be closer to established communities with cultural and linguistic ties. (Source: BBC News)

This short report summarises the findings from a recent Home Office consultation with modern slavery survivors on the topic of victim support. While, exploitation risks for those on the agricultural visa scheme are explored in this new report, which focuses on living and working conditions. This short video provides an introduction to the visa scheme. (Sources: Human Trafficking Foundation, FLEX)

A new report on the ongoing struggles experienced by members of the Roma community in London in relation to acquiring and using EU Settlement Scheme status has been published by Roma Support Group. (Source: Roma Support Group)

A recent report from the British Academy warns that the decline in the numbers of international students arriving could have a severe impact on courses in media studies at UK higher education. The report reveals that 54% of postgraduate students enrolled in media-related studies are from abroad. (Source: Erudera).

Cohesion and integration

The National Centre for Social Research has released a new paper on changing attitudes towards migration showing that between 2014 and 2024 attitudes had improved, and that generally people felt migration was good for the economy. (Source: National Centre for Social Research)

A new article looks at the experiences of refugees undergoing homelessness following their asylum claim being granted. Interviewing third sector providers and refugees, it looks at what circumstances have led to more than 5000 refugee households being classed as homeless in England, and what changes to support and policy could make a difference. (Source: Hyphen)