Migration news roundup 20 February 2024

Onjali Rauf’s wonderful children’s book about a Syrian refugee boy in the UK, ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’, has been adapted for the stage – national tour coming to Sheffield from 5 March. (Source: the Guardian)

More than 3,000 people died trying to reach the EU via the Mediterranean last year. Many rescue organisations argue this could have been avoided if EU countries had changed their regulations. (Source: the Guardian)

Why did a peer say: ‘Saying a dog is a cat doesn't make it such. It may be your opinion, but it isn't true’? The House of Lords has been scrutinising the Rwanda Bill line-by-line, with critique from across all party affiliations. During the debate, it was argued ‘allies’ who supported the British troops overseas should be exempt from removal to Rwanda. Next the Lords will vote on the proposed amendments before the Bill returns to the House of Commons, which could pass into law by the end of March. Separately, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, a cross-party parliamentary committee, declared the Rwanda policy as incompatible with human rights safeguards that could damage the UK’s reputation. It said the courts are the most appropriate place to determine the safety of Rwanda, rather than in legislation. (Sources: The Standard, BBC, UK Parliament)

Six people were taken to hospital when migrants were found in the back of a lorry arriving in East Sussex from France. One person was arrested on suspicion of ‘facilitating illegal entry to the UK’; a second person was arrested for ‘illegally entering the UK’. (Source: Sky News)

‘What I see, all the time, is waste of human capital’ - the outgoing Chief Inspector of Borders has criticised the government for obstructing inspections, being unwilling to learn lessons and having no asylum housing strategy. Assessments of the Afghan resettlement schemes (dated June 2023) and the use of hotels for unaccompanied children (dated November 2023) are two of 14 completed inspection reports awaiting publication by the Home Office. (Sources: Financial Times, Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration)

Plans to reduce the use of hotels as asylum housing include offering landlords five-year deals, where the payment of rent and bills are guaranteed. However, there are also warnings about the impact dispersed accommodation can have on communities in places where housing is cheapest, including parts of Yorkshire and Humber. (Source: Telegraph)

The current government consultation into reforming eligibility for social housing appears to target refugees who have come through the asylum system, according to this article, although it suggests it is unlikely to have a significant impact on local authority practice. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) consultation closes on 26 March. (Sources: Free Movement, DLUHC)

London’s six overground train lines have been renamed, including one now called The Windrush Line to honour the Windrush community. The new Windrush line is red and runs through several areas with Caribbean communities. (Source: BBC)

A recent study looks at the impact of Hostile Environment policies on the mental health of Black Caribbean people, finding it to have had a greater impact than the coronavirus lockdown had on the wider population. Also, a report has been published on the mental health of refugee and asylum seekers in the UK, including calls for a clear strategy from the government for refugee integration as part of its recommendations. (Sources: the Guardian, Mental Health Foundation.)

A new Conversation Club is starting in March at Halton Library, in Leeds – all are welcome. It aims to provide a friendly environment to practise English and access library services. (Source: Leeds Inspired)

Last updated:

20th February 2024