FMR: Asylum in Europe

2015 Forced Migration ReviewDeadline for submission of articles: 7th September 2015

Although the number of asylum applications in Europe remains at a very modest level compared with many other regions in the world, the number is on the rise and in 2015 an unprecedented number of refugees and other migrants have been dying in their attempts to reach European ports and find safety. The plight of migrants and refugees on the Mediterranean Sea has made frequent headline news, triggering impassioned debate among Europe’s citizens as well as its politicians. Continue reading “FMR: Asylum in Europe”

UK’s fast-track asylum system ruled unlawful

Government appeal system for processing asylum seekers’ applications, which has been in use for a decade, must be quashed, high court rules

A fast-track immigration appeals procedure under which thousands of asylum seekers have been locked up each year has been declared unlawful by the high court.

Mr Justice Nichol said the process under which rejected asylum seekers arriving in Britain are detained and given seven days to appeal was “structurally unfair”.

The judge said the rules put asylum seekers “at a serious procedural disadvantage” and said it “looks uncomfortably akin to … sacrificing fairness on the altar of speed and convenience”. Continue reading “UK’s fast-track asylum system ruled unlawful”

PLEASE HELP BY JULY 3rd 2015: OPERATION CALAIS

2015 emmaus Calais_camp_article_detailEmmaus is providing humanitarian aid to the 2,500+ migrants in the Calais area of northern France. This number is growing daily – many have survived Mediterranean crossings and some are fleeing the Syrian conflict. Since the clearance of the Sangatte centre most are now camped around the Jules Ferry Centre with one meal supplied once a day for a maximum of 1500 people. Migrants, including very young children – many of them unaccompanied, and pregnant women, are living in appalling conditions without decent shelter, enough food, nearby water, or other basic essentials.  Continue reading “PLEASE HELP BY JULY 3rd 2015: OPERATION CALAIS”

Pope Francis: Immigrant Children Must Be ‘Welcomed And Protected’

Pope Francis confronted the “racist and xenophobic attitudes” that often face undocumented immigrants by addressing the thousands of unaccompanied childrenincluded in their ranks.

In a message delivered to the Mexico-Holy See Colloquium on Migration and Development on Monday, the pope drew attention to these migrant children who he said often undertake the dangerous border crossing alone in order to escape violence in their home countries:

Self-Harm in Immigration Detention January Through March 2015

19% Increase in Suicide Attempts of Immigration Detainees Q1/2015

There were 70 suicide attempts in Harmondsworth IRC, January through March 2015, a 311% increase over the previous quarter October through December 2014 in which their were 17.

Yarl’s Wood recorded 26 attempts 5 more than the last quarter of 2014, one individual made more than one attempt but UKHO would not specify the number of attempts.

In Total there were 160 recorded incidents of Self-Harm requiring medical attention. Continue reading “Self-Harm in Immigration Detention January Through March 2015”

Will your MP sign EDM 130: Yarl’s Wood

YarlswoodEarly Day Motion 130: Yarl’s Wood IRC
That this House notes the work of and problems in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, and especially the poor treatment of women detainees by Serco; is concerned that despite this, Serco’s contract has been renewed; calls on the Home Secretary to reassess the entire detention process so that radical changes to the current system can be made; and urges her to seek alternative solutions to end the practice of detention before deportation.
Sponsor: Osamor, Kate House of Commons: <> 15.06.2015

Release ‘critical’ reports into privately run immigration centres, ICO orders

 Harmondsworth immigration removal centre near Heathrow, west London. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images.

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Potentially damaging reports into the running of two immigration detention centres by private contractors must be released by the Home Office within weeks, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said.

The documents will give detailed breakdowns and insight into the running of Harmondsworth, Britain’s largest immigration detention centre, and Colnbrook, both near Heathrow in west London.

Read the full report here: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/15/immigration-detention-centres-harmondsworth-colnbrook-ico-reports

 

Compass: Safeguarding Children from Destitution:

2015 June 18BASW: Local Authority Responses to Families with ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’

Implications for policy and practice: There is a range of steps which could be considered to address this situation.
The use of the ‘No recourse to public funds’ restriction as a means of immigration control – whether it is necessary and proportionate or alternatives could be deployed – is beyond the scope of this study. We suggest only that our findings should be taken into account in any review of the extent to which the NRPF restriction is used, not least for people who will be in the UK for long periods, recognising the implications for children in the small minority of families that become destitute and financial consequences for local authorities. Continue reading “Compass: Safeguarding Children from Destitution:”

Medical Justice appeal to health professionals

 medical-justiceTo all Medical Justice supporters,

The only way Medical Justice can reach more vulnerable detainees is to increase our pool of trained doctors and other health professionals.
So please do forward this notice about training to any doctors and other health professionals who you think may be interested. Thanks in advance for helping to spread the word.

Shut YarlsWood gathering 6 June 2015

Malka and JulietProbably 500+ well-motivated people shouting for Yarlswood to close. The women inside can see and hear those outside from a path round the back – and we made a lot of noise. They waved through the gaps in their windows. Let’s hope it gave them strength.

People who had been in Yarlswood and the system, also Juliet Stevenson, Natalie Bennett and the local MP spoke, along with others, the sun shone and as someone said … the winds of change blew Continue reading “Shut YarlsWood gathering 6 June 2015”