THE UK’s immigration and asylum system is broken and that is something that most politicians and activists in the field readily admit, the most notable exception being Home Secretary Priti Patel, who has taken over from Theresa May as the main protagonist in the hostile environment.
Her Nationality and Borders Bill is still making its way through Westminster with a line-by-line examination later this month after being given its second reading in the House of Lords.
That second reading entailed a six-hour debate, during which senior Tory Lord David Wolfson, admitted: “The current system is not working. It is not working for those people who genuinely need protection and refuge ... Nor is the current system working for the people of this country – so the status quo is not a viable option.”
The stated aims of the Bill are to make the system fairer and better protect and support those who need asylum; deter illegal entry into the UK and break up the people-smuggling business model; and more easily remove those with no right to be in the UK.
On the face of it, laudable aims perhaps, but dubbed the “anti-refugee bill”, the legislation also proposes offshore detention centres, in breach of international law, and in some cases the revocation of UK citizenship without notice.
“The number of refugees making journeys to the UK has fallen by more than a third since 2010,” Robina Qureshi, director of the charity Positive Action in Housing (PAIH).
“We do not take our fair share of the world’s refugees and we are not the preferred destination for refugees seeking protection in Europe.
“Those in genuine need that do seek protection in the UK do so for familial, language or educational reasons.
“They also seek protection in order to settle and earn citizenship rights.
“After all, if you can’t resettle then what was the point of seeking refuge in the first place?”
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The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) kicks off 2022 with the launch later this month of a report called “We also want to be safe: Undocumented migrants facing Covid in a hostile environment”.
It is based on interviews with undocumented migrants and those who work alongside and support them, and JCWI said it shines a spotlight on the realities of the pandemic for undocumented people, and some of the systemic issues they have faced as a result of the UK’s hostile environment policies.
Alongside the more general immigration and asylum issues, the UK is also struggling with the consequences of Brexit and the ending of free movement of people throughout Europe, which has brought its own version of the hostile environment.
Campaign group the3million said family members of EU citizens in the UK are being prevented from coming back home, despite having leave to remain here through their pre- or settled status.
The non-EU citizens are required to have biometric residence cards (BRC) to travel. However, the 3million said the lack of clear communications from the Home Office has led to some people being denied boarding and having to make lengthy and costly stays away from their homes.
One couple caught up in the confusion are Isabella, an Italian citizen, and her husband Jean, a Cameroonian, both of whom have settled status, and whose names we have changed.
Before Brexit, Jean had a resident card used with his passport to travel, but it expired last February and they were told they do not now exist.
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Isabella said: “In November, we travelled to Italy for a one week holiday to visit my family. When we were on our way back, Jean was refused boarding ... we were told he couldn’t travel back only with his passport. We contacted immigration, the embassy, but no one could tell us what he needs to re-enter. I was also told that if I leave him here, he’d be illegally in Italy and he could potentially be arrested.
“When he checks his status online, it says he has the right to travel in and out of the country and doesn’t mention any card.
“Our two children are also with us. We are desperate. We’ve been stuck here for months and it’s had a significant impact on our family.”
Luke Piper, head of policy and advocacy at the3million, said: “People are in dreadful situations, unable to return to their homes in the UK, because of a lack of clear, consistent communication from the Home Office. This has significant emotional and financial consequences. We are calling for the Home Office to clarify the rights of these people and give them the travel permits they urgently require.”
The Home Office has confirmed that Jean’s application for a travel permit was granted on December 30 but notification had been delayed by holidays over the festive period.
They were working with the visa application centre in Italy to ensure he received his EUSS travel permit as soon as possible.
A spokesperson added: “The EU Settlement Scheme has been an overwhelming success, with almost 6.3 million applications received and more than 5.5 million grants of status made by November 30.”
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