Immigration News
Data laws could harm EU citizens’ attempts to stay in UK, court told
The Guardian – 17 January
The High Court has heard that some EU citizens are being denied access to their personal records under Home Office rules. This could cause issues for those wanting to apply for their right to remain. The Open Rights Group and the3million are challenging a part of the Data Protection Act 2018 that allows the Home Office to restrict access to personal data.
The Immigration Bill: An end to free movement
House of Commons Library – 15 January
The second reading of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19 will happen this month, and if passed, would revoke free movement and other related EU benefits. Following on from Brexit, all EU citizens residing in the UK would be subject to domestic immigration law.
Sadiq Khan demands plan to charge EU nationals to stay in UK changed
The Guardian – 14 January
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has written to the Home Secretary to demand a change in the post-Brexit immigration policy. Current plans would force EU nationals staying in the UK to pay £65 each to apply for settled status. Khan has called it a ‘prohibitive cost’ for many and has asked the government to waive the fee.
Lib Dem bill would let asylum seekers work in UK after three months
The Guardian – 10 January
Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has introduced a bill which would give asylum seekers the right to work after three months of arriving in the UK. Currently asylum seekers waiting for their claims to be processed can only work if they have been waiting more than 12 months and if they can fill a roll on the shortage of occupations list.
DUP criticise post-Brexit migration plans
BBC News – 7 January
The DUP has criticised the recent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommendations in the White Paper on migration, as being ‘very rigid’. The party has emphasised the importance of low skilled labour in Northern Ireland, which does not fit in with the MAC proposals for low skilled workers to only work for a year at a time.
