Welcome to the weekly Free Motion publication!
It was Frantic Maths Day on Thursday and whereas within the midst of all of it I went to take a look at my write up of the last statistics release from November final yr. It was fairly a jolt to see that I had written there that two folks had died within the Channel the day earlier than, as the identical factor had occurred this time. On Wednesday it was reported that at the very least one particular person died and two extra had been lacking. On Sunday the information bought worse as a ship with 11 youngsters had been in a ship that sank in France, and certainly one of them, a seven year old girl died. These deaths will proceed so long as the UK makes it almost impossible for folks to get right here through some other route.
The Nationwide Audit Workplace’s report on the federal government’s spending on the Rwanda plan was launched final week, I wrote it up for Friday however missed an fascinating level made in Ian Dunt’s substack. That is that the £120 million bonus that Rwanda will obtain as soon as 300 folks have been despatched there does point out that the federal government considers this a benchmark for achievement. And that determine of 300 would clearly not make the slightest impression within the dimension of the backlog of people ready for a call or to be admitted to the asylum system. So what precisely, past cruelty, is the purpose?
Former Impartial Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal gave proof to the House Affairs Choose Committee final week. One factor he mentioned that I used to be unaware of is that there’s a (presumably) substantive listening to happening in relation to Manston asylum processing centre on 21 and 22 March, by which the ICIBI as an organisation is an celebration. Positively one to maintain an eye fixed out for.
Permission has also been granted in a judicial evaluate difficult using RAF Wethersfield as asylum lodging. The complete listening to will happen from 23 to 26 July. The Helen Bamber Basis revealed a report in December detailing the “irreparable and profound harm” brought on by the positioning and final week the Guardian reported that in January there had been two suicide makes an attempt that resulted in hospitalisation of the lads affected.
Additionally on Rwanda, report stage for the Security of Rwanda Invoice within the Home of Lords begins at this time, and that is the place they are going to begin voting on amendments. Ping pong is seemingly going to start out within the week commencing 18 March. No replace on how Rwanda’s legislative adjustments are continuing.
Colin’s webinar on the Bill and the Illegal Migration Act 2023 is tomorrow morning (Ed: too late – it was this morning!) so you might have lower than 24 hours to guide. I’ve been going by the slides this morning and it has actually helped me with my understanding of all of it (and I didn’t suppose I had a lot left to be taught on all of this!). It will be an motion packed and extremely informative session.
In different Free Motion information, we now have up to date our visit visa course for members, to keep in mind latest adjustments to the immigration guidelines. Now we have additionally revealed an in depth take a look at the recent changes to the Ukrainian routes and I wrote up the most recent case the place the Courtroom of Attraction needed to sort out an extremely poorly written First-tier Tribunal choice.
For the remainder on Free Motion in addition to every little thing else I’ve noticed over the previous week and thought you may be concerned with, do learn on beneath.
Oh, and don’t fear, I’m on the case with these ICIBI stories revealed en masse on Thursday in the most cynical of moves, however gained’t be dropping all of them on you directly – watch this area!
Cheers, Sonia
What we’ve been studying
The UK Is GPS-Tagging Thousands of Migrants – Wired, 27 February
David Neal’s sacking shows why independent inspectors need more powers – Institute for Authorities, 23 February
The statelessness of Shamima Begum – Prospect Journal, 29 February
Border deaths, the criminalisation of people arriving on ‘small boats’, and the unjust imprisonment of Ibrahima Bah – Institute of Race Relations, 1 March
My View: A therapeutic intervention for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children – Foundations What Works Centre for Kids & Households, 1 March
‘Withdrawing asylum claims doesn’t make the person disappear’: What’s happened to the people removed from the Home Office waiting list? – Sky Information, 29 February
Foreign Office grants Indefinite Leave to Remain to mother of British Embassy workers in Kabul and agrees to pay indemnity costs – Backyard Courtroom Chambers, 29 February
Human Rights Committee to visit Rwanda – Joint Committee on Human Rights, 22 February
Former BA employee allegedly orchestrated £3m immigration scam from Heathrow check-in desk – The Guardian, 27 February
Criminalised for Seeking Asylum: the conviction of Ibrahima Bah – Public Curiosity Regulation Centre, 1 March
Ten changes to make the ICIBI more effective – David Neal, 27 February
Wednesday briefing: How a sacked official blew the whistle on new lows in the asylum system – The Guardian, 28 February
The asylum backlog: Job done? – Institute for Public Coverage Analysis, 28 February
50,000 asylum seekers trapped in ‘never-ending limbo’ by Home Office, think tank says – The Massive Situation, 28 February
RNLI-Border Force row reveals ‘chaos’ in maritime rescue before Channel tragedy – The Guardian, 3 March
‘Pretty dodgy’: alarm over suspect care agencies granted Home Office licence to act as visa sponsors – The Observer, 3 March
