Migration news roundup 5 June 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

The documentary ‘The Sanctuary Seekers of Bradford’ follows three compassionate individuals who help refugees and people seeking asylum. You can book a free ticket to the screening in Bradford on 21 June. (Source: Eventbrite)

Bradford literature festival (22 June to 2 July) is offering free tickets to refugees and people seeking asylum. Get sharing and booking! (Source: Bradford Literature Festival)

International news

The International Rescue Committee accused EU leaders of neglecting Afghan refugees, urging member states to upscale their resettlement programmes by creating safe pathways for Afghan refugees. (Source: International Rescue Committee)

The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR pleaded for more funds to ensure continuous lifesaving interventions in Chad due to the growing number of refugees arriving from Sudan and other countries. (Source: UN News)

UK borders and migration policy

On the Illegal Migration Bill, the UN’s lead on human rights expressed concerns over the Bill’s impact on the international protection system. Meanwhile, this article in Vogue discusses the Bill’s impact on pregnant women. (Sources: Reuters, Vogue)

It was reported that Home Office staff could strike in protest against the government’s policy approach to small boats through the Bill and its Rwanda plans, after a staff union revealed that workers were considering industrial action. Government ministers have condemned the idea of civil service refusing to carry out government instructions. (Source: Independent)

On small boats there are a few important items:

• The Home Office spent nearly £1.5 million on technology systems to track small boats arrivals in the UK. This has been spent through contracts procured to a specialist IT firm to act as ‘migrant trackers’.
• This article describes rescues in the Channel conducted by the UK this year.
• As part of measures to deter Albanians crossing the Channel in small boats, the Home Office is launching a new online campaign targeting this group.

(Sources:  Independent, Public Technology, Metro, BBC)

This article suggests why record net migration figures is welcome news highlighting benefits such as the financial boost to the economy that results from migration through the student and skilled worker routes. (Source: Metro)

The High Court ruled that an unpublished Home Office policy was unlawful after it wrongfully led to some individuals having their leave curtailed and even detained due to outstanding NHS debt. (Source: Free Movement)

Specific migrant groups

UNHCR published its audit of the UK asylum registration and screening system (prior to dispersal and decision making on their asylum claim) including unaccompanied children. It concluded there’s a risk that decisions based on screening information will be flawed. News coverage of the report includes one item that references case studies such as children as young as 12 being detained. It has been revealed that government spending on the UK asylum system has increased under the Conservative government and that £2.1 billion was spent during 2021. (Sources: UNHCR, Independent, the Guardian)

New guidance was published on Home Office plans to exit resettled Afghans from bridging accommodation. (Source: Home Office)

On modern slavery, there are a couple of new resources aimed at business:

• A toolkit for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food and drink sector, originally commissioned by the Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
• Guidance on preventing modern slavery affecting displaced people, aimed at businesses or suppliers located in countries next to a conflict zone as well as places with high numbers of refugees.

(Sources: TRIBE Freedom Foundation, Anti-Slavery International)

On Windrush, read the personal story of Roland McGuire who came from Grenada in 1958 and settled in Huddersfield, including early experiences of racism and buying his first house. (Source: Metro)

Here’s a video about the struggle of a Year 11 schoolboy who came to the UK from Hong Kong in 2021, reflecting on how he manages the challenges of migration. (Source: Green Bean, 14 minutes)

On young people, Lord Dubs has written a piece calling for the exemption of children from proposals in the Illegal Migration Bill, saying that they will be ’terrified of turning 18‘ due to the government’s duty to remove them. (Source: Financial Times)

Cohesion and integration

The Council of Europe found ‘persistent discrimination’ in the UK against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, including ‘shocking’ amounts of bullying in the education system, prejudiced reporting in the media and threats to legal status and rights as a result of recent legislative changes. (Source: the Guardian)

Here is a timeline to mark 100 years of fascist and anti-fascist actions in the UK, including personal stories of resistance such as Gerald Calliste-Vevian, one of the first black anti-fascist activists in the UK. (Source: HOPE not hate)