As the holiday season approaches, alongside the prospect of another brief summer in the UK, those of us privileged enough to do so find ourselves arriving at airports, eagerly awaiting our escapism. But most holiday makers do not know that their chosen airport is a prison to those who want to stay in the UK.
This week, there’s been devastating stories of lives lost because of borders.
We will not forget them.
And we will continue working with others for change. There’s so many of us who want a better world.
We are proud to be part of this short film from Child Migrant Stories, now available on YouTube.
Child Migrants Welcome? explores the welcome received by unaccompanied child refugees both historically under the Kindertransport scheme before World War Two and today.
The report argues that the existing systems of funding, contracting and auditing, which perversely protect the market position of poorer-quality providers, create advice deserts and droughts, and drive up demand and cost in the asylum and legal aid systems.
Ken Macharia reported to the Home Office last week, flanked by his Bristol Bisons team-mates.
Practical solidarity is needed every day, in quiet ways and loud, to survive and succeed in navigating the legal system.
At Right to Remain, we have seen just how many lives and communities have been ruined (and indeed how many lives have been lost) by Theresa May’s Hostile Environment.
So it was a lovely surprise when someone tweeted that, to celebrate the news of May’s resignation, she was donating to our work.
A report released last month by the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, into “the Home Office’s approach to illegal working” provided an interesting window onto perceptions of the Home Office, and the lack of public support for enforcement operations.
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, David Bolt, has announced that as part of his inspection of the UK’s asylum system, he is calling for evidence on the Home Office’s use of interpreters in the asylum process.
The deadline is 13 June.
The Committee on Justice and Equality in the Irish parliament are inviting written submissions from stakeholders and interested parties on the issues of Ireland’s “direct provision” asylum system, and what can be done to address the many issues that exist within this system.
The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) are asking groups in Britain and Northern Ireland if they would consider signing a statement which asks the Committee to bear in mind the 14 ‘Key principles for justice and dignity in the asylum process’ that MASI have put forward when considering what proposals to recommend to the government.
Observing appeal hearings is a strange, uncomfortable business. But It gives you a bit of distance that means you can think about procedures, timings, dynamics and how to communicate this information to people who need it, in a way that’s difficult if you’re personally involved.