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Two-tier refugee system leaves many destitute and homeless, say MPs

Cross-party group report finds support differs for refugees who come to UK via asylum route rather than resettlement A costly “two-tier system” of providing protection for refugees in Britain has developed, leaving many at risk of homelessness and destitution, according … Continue reading →

Thousands of asylum seekers and migrants wrongly denied NHS healthcare

Thousands of asylum seekers and migrants have been wrongly denied NHS healthcare, in some cases being refused treatment despite suffering from life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart disease, doctors have warned. Undocumented migrants with urgent care needs have been … Continue reading →

New research suggests depriving migrants of driving licenses harms road safety

Interesting, given that the UK is now doing exactly the opposite by taking away driving licences for migrants with no status (and some who do have status but where the Home Office makes a mistake): States that let unauthorized immigrants … Continue reading →

‘It’s a shambles’: data shows most asylum seekers put in poorest parts of Britain

Based on the number of asylum seekers living in each council area on 31 December 2016: 34,936 asylum seekers live in areas with Labour-led councils compared with 1,680 in Conservative-led areas; Ten local authorities are home to one third of … Continue reading →

Support for children who have been through Calais

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit has been working with a significant number of children who have been through Calais on their way to the North West. The briefing paper looks at the experiences of 40 children that they represent and the … Continue reading →

Private firms banned from forcing asylum seekers to share bedrooms in Newcastle

Housing firms have been banned from forcing refugees to share bedrooms with strangers by council chiefs. Newcastle City Council’s cabinet backed the proposals at the cabinet meeting on 20 March 2017 where councillors were told some companies contracted by central … Continue reading →

Government keeps Asylum Seekers below subsistence levels on £5 a day

The Government will maintain financial support to asylum seekers at a rate of five pounds a day, despite evidence from the British Red Cross that asylum destitution is “on the rise”. Asylum seekers are barred from working or claiming benefits including … Continue reading →

Can’t Stay, Can’t Go

The British Red Cross publishes stories on ‘the people forgotten by our asylum system’, highlighting the plight of people being pushed into destitution. Download the report, Can’t Stay. Can’t Go. Refused asylum seekers who cannot be returned here Hundreds more migrants … Continue reading →

The shame of asylum housing of child refugees in the UK

John Grayson, a campaigner from South Yorkshire, examines the market in asylum housing in the UK. The early months of the lives of hundreds of babies, toddlers and young child refugees have been blighted by life in privatised accommodation provided … Continue reading →