Migration news roundup 7 August 2023

• 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

Councillors in Calderdale committed to welcoming and respecting all refugees, passing a motion to become a Council of Sanctuary. (Source: Halifax Courier)

With community support in Calderdale Sergiy Fedchenko, a Ukrainian boxing champion and his family have been raising funds to aid their home country. (Source: Yorkshire Post)

Hamzeh Al Hussien, a disabled Syrian artist who arrived in England five years ago, will be performing his drama, Penguin, in Leeds (during October) and Sheffield (in November). (Source: Theatre Weekly)

International news

In Europe, Afghan refugees protested against the German government, wanting them to review the regulations barring their family members aged over 18 to be evacuated from Afghanistan. (Source: Info Migrants)

Outside Europe:

• UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) called for more legal pathways to migrate to the USA from South America after the Darién gap migration route between Panama and Columbia has seen record numbers. (Source: the Guardian)
• In New York many asylum seekers are rough sleeping due to capacity to process and house them. (Source: CBS News)

UK borders and migration policy

On the Illegal Migration Act, this briefing explains how the legislation has evolved since its first reading in Parliament in March, and what provisions are already in place. (Source: Free Movement)

July saw the highest numbers of people per boat crossing the Channel at 52, despite the total number of arrivals still being 10% lower than last year. Meanwhile, a Dover museum is showcasing the history of Channel crossings exploring themes of trade, tourism, and migration. (Sources: Independent, BBC)

On visas and immigration:

• Here’s an insight into students who overstay their visas, highlighting that the Home Office has little official data on the numbers overstaying. (Source: Sky News)
• A top Eritrean professional cyclist has been unable to secure a visa to participate in the World Road Cycling Championships taking place in Glasgow.  (Source: the Guardian)

Following an investigation previously reported on, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has suspended three immigration law firms who were advising clients to make false asylum claims. (Source: the Guardian)

Specific migrant groups

On asylum:

• The Bibby Stockholm barge will supposedly become operational as asylum accommodation in the coming weeks despite delays over fire safety rules. (Source: BBC)
• Here’s more insight into the High Court ruling on delays processing asylum support applications. (Source: Free Movement)

This article discusses five problems with digital proof of immigration status, based on experiences of the EU settlement scheme. (Source: Free Movement)

An evaluation has been published on a recent Home Office-led pilot regarding victims of domestic violence with no recourse to public funds. One of the partners included in the project was Ashiana in Yorkshire and Humber. (Source: Home Office)

On Hong Kong:

• An updated list of organisations receiving grants under the Hong Kong Welcome Programme has been updated, four of which are in Yorkshire and Humber. (Source: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
• The Migration Yorkshire project with Jo Cox Foundation was launched on Yorkshire Day. (Source: Jo Cox Foundation)

Torbay Council has shared details of the financial challenges with supporting care leavers who are refugees and the lack of resources available. In other news, some UK ministers were questioned about figures of unaccompanied children in hotels, following the High Court judgement released last week.  (UK Visas and Immigration, the Guardian)

Cohesion and integration

Read a new impact report on the effectiveness of the Reaching New Scots Fund a fund that was made available to grassroots organisations and community groups supporting refugee integration. (Source: Scottish Refugee Council)

Research from Northumbria University has demonstrated the economic benefits of companies hiring refugees, as well as to the integration of refugees themselves. (Source: The Conversation)