Migration news roundup 7 October 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

Six women, all healthcare workers from Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Kenya, are portrayed in a mural on a side of a London hospital. The artwork aims to honour the bravery of those women and value the multicultural workforce that makes up the NHS. (Source: BBC) 

New book ‘Our Heritage 2’ documents the stories of women from a Gujarati Indian Muslim background who made Batley in Kirklees their home. (Source: BBC) 

International news

In the Americas: 

• Over 700,000 people are internally displaced in Haiti, with a significant rise in recent months due to gang violence. At the same time, thousands of Haitians face being forced out of neighbouring Dominican Republic. (Source: Al Jazeera) 

• The USA is aiming to admit 125,000 refugees during the year ending September 2025 which would be the highest level for many years. (Source: Reuters) 

This article discusses the impact of the Russian invasion on the Ukrainian Roma community. (Source: the Economist) 

Some British citizens and their families are being evacuated on government chartered flights from Lebanon due to growing conflict in the Middle East. There are an estimated 4,000-6,000 British nationals in Lebanon. (Source: Metro) 

UK borders and migration policy

The number of people arriving in the UK by small boats in September was 4,190 compared with 4,729 in 2023. (Source: The London Economic) 

German and French ministers have suggested the EU should work towards an agreement on migration with the UK as the lack of such an agreement exacerbates smuggling and dangerous journeys across the Channel. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer is reportedly reluctant to explore the possibility of an EU-UK youth mobility scheme, concerned such a scheme could appear similar to the pre-Brexit freedom of movement. (Source: the Guardian) 

Specific migrant groups

On asylum: 

• The Home Secretary confirmed that people seeking asylum will continue to be housed in hotel accommodation while the backlog of applications is cleared over the next three years. (Source: Independent) 

• An analysis suggests over 31,000 individuals claiming asylum were left in limbo under the previous government’s Illegal Migration Act 2023, which considered these claims to be inadmissible. As amendments to the regulations in July meant such asylum claims can now be processed, this article describes the role of councils in the face of inevitable and increasing homelessness as the Home Office makes more decisions on asylum cases. (Sources: OpenDemocracy, NRPF Network) 

Supported by organisations around the country including in Yorkshire and Humber, this briefing discusses the urgent need for legal aid in the immigration system. In anticipation of legal advice being provided remotely in future, this research report discusses the experiences of people who have received in-person and remote legal advice and calls for research and practice guidance to minimise risk of harm to people seeking asylum. (Sources: Migrants Organise, Public Law Project) 

On children and young people: 

• New research has found migration during adolescence can increase the risk of psychosis. The greatest risk was for black and north African young people who migrated between ages 11 and 17. (Source: the Guardian) 

• A foster carer shares her experience of caring for a 16 year old unaccompanied asylum seeking child from Ethiopia. (Source: Metro) 

• Following a report last week highlighting challenges faced by displaced young people in the UK in accessing education, Barnet Southgate College shares the successes of their ESOL programme for young refugees. (Source: the Guardian) 

On the Windrush generation: 

• Being Here, a new exhibition at the Whitworth gallery in Manchester, will feature 70 works by artist Barbara Walker who discusses the exhibition in this interview, including her portraits of first- and second-generation Windrush migrants. (Sources: Whitworth gallery, the Guardian) 

• Alford Gardner, Leeds resident and one of the last surviving passengers of the Empire Windrush, has passed away aged 98. (Source: Independent) 

Because of its bourgeoning Asian shops and businesses, the Merrion Centre in Leeds is attracting many international students, helping them to feel at home. (Source: BBC) 

Cohesion and integration

A new outdoor exhibition in front of the Senedd building in Cardiff, ‘A Great British Welcome’, tells stories of how refugees, people seeking asylum and host communities thrive together. Photos from the series (including from Bradford) can be downloaded. (Source: UNHCR) 

Seyfu Jamaal and Kader Seyed, both based in London, are ambassadors of the Refugee Run Club, an organisation supporting refugees across the country through local running communities. They both participated in the Berlin Marathon in September 2024. (Source: Independent)