Month: July 2015

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Calais Migrant Crisis Quiz: 15 Questions To Test Your Knowledge

Attempts by migrants to reach Britain have reached an all time high as hundreds of people rushed the Channel Tunnel for a third night in chaotic scenes on Wednesday.

The reasons for the crisis are many, global and complex, with experts believing that a series of factors over the last twelve months have caused a global increase in migrants “unprecedented since the World War II era”, leading to a “perfect storm” on Britain’s doorstep.

Prime Minister David Cameron promised that the Government “will do everything we can” to improve the situation, including spending £7 million on fencing at the Eurotunnel terminal.

These 15 questions will test your knowledge of the crisis, its causes and likely consequences… http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/30/calais-migrant-crisis-explained-questions-quiz_n_7904772.html

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These 15 questions will test your knowledge of the crisis, its causes and likely consequences…

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Campaigns to welcome Syrian Refugees: Amnesty, People of Malvern and Croydon

AmnestyAmnesty International briefing: Syrian Refugees Activists around the UK have been campaigning tirelessly on the Syrian refugee resettlement issue. We’ve been raising this issue through protest actions, the #OpenToSyria online photo action, lobbying local councils to find places for Syrian families, and writing to MPs and Government ministers.

Here are a few facts and figures which may be useful if you’re talking about Syrian refugees. Continue reading “Campaigns to welcome Syrian Refugees: Amnesty, People of Malvern and Croydon”

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Right to rent & destitution concerns

city-of-sanctuaryThe Home Office is evaluating the Right to Rent pilot in the Midlands and JCWI and MAX are working with partners to carry out an independent evaluation. Meanwhile, the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group have written to Lord Best outlining their concerns over the impact that the implementation of this measure will have on refused asylum seekers. Refused asylum seekers often live in rented accommodation (supported by relatives, friends or a charity) while considering what to do next and the Act will make this illegal. For more information see: http://cityofsanctuary.org/2015/07/14/new-destitution-concerns-re-the-planned-implementation-of-the-right-to-rent/ :  Continue reading “Right to rent & destitution concerns”
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Updates and action on cuts to asylum support

Still human still hereOn 16 July, the Home Office wrote to NASF members outlining why it decided to reduce the rates of support to asylum seeking families. The Home Office also made available the Policy Equality Statement which accompanied the review of support rates. Both documents are attached as files

On 21 July, David Hanson MP, Shadow Immigration Minister, formally opposed the regulations which brought in the cuts to asylum support. This is done by tabling an EDM which prays against the regulations, see: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/340. This EDM is supported by MPs from the SNP, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.

Shortly afterwards, John McDonnell MP tabled a separate EDM opposing the cuts. This EDM specifically call for the Government to withdraw the cut and for a parliamentary debate to be held on the issue.  For the full text see:http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/344. This EDM (No.344) has 27 signatures to date (17 of which are from the SNP) and is one that backbench MPs can sign to show their concern over the impact the cuts will have on asylum seeking families with children.

Regional Asylum Activism (RAA) have put together a good campaign action on this issue. It calls on members of the public tocontact their MP and to ask them to write to the Immigration Minister, James Brokenshire MP, to voice their concerns regarding the cuts and/or to sign EDM 344. RAA have drafted a model letter which you can adapt and send to your MP. For more details go to: http://regionalasylumactivism.org/2015/07/21/government-cuts-support-for-children-seeking-refugee-protection/ 

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“WE WANT FREEDOM” Alice Wanju-Maina being held in solitary confinement

Emergency campaign from Black Women’s Rape Action Project: A woman in Yarl’s Wood IRC has been put in solitary confinement for refusing to remove a t-shirt with the slogan: “We want freedom”.

Alice Wanja-Maina was ordered this morning to take off the T-shirt by officer James Brown who claimed that the Home Office had told Serco to stop women wearing the T-shirts because it “incites” them.  Ms JS who witnessed the incident said that six guards surrounded Ms Wanja-Maina and she was videoed.  When Ms Wanja-Maina was threatened with being taken to the punishment wing (Kingfisher) she took all her clothes off to protest. She had written “freedom” on her body too. Continue reading ““WE WANT FREEDOM” Alice Wanju-Maina being held in solitary confinement”

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Home Office has been ‘egregious and cynical’ on question of child asylum seekers

COMMENT Home Office has been ‘egregious and cynical’ on question of child asylum seekers, says UK academic by Dr Liza Schuster 

Dr Liza Schuster, a sociology academic at City University currently working in Afghanistan

According to work by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism published today, more than 600 former unaccompanied asylum seeking children have been sent back to Afghanistan since 2009 – their claims and appeals rejected. Continue reading “Home Office has been ‘egregious and cynical’ on question of child asylum seekers”

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Abraham_Ibrahim Inter-Faith Tent on Harmondsworth Moor

under canvas 2Sunday July 5 (Ramadan and 17th of Tammuz) on Harmondsworth Moor

The UK is the only European country not to have a limit on how long someone can be kept in immigration detention. The result is an expensive, ineffective and unjust system that:

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Migreurop: Bridges, not weapons!

MigreuropAn appeal for a migrant, asylum seeker and refugee reception policy

It is estimated that over 20,000 people have lost their lives along Europe’s borders over the past 20 years, with almost 2,000 of them perishing in the Mediterranean since the start of 2015. The Member States of the European Union (EU) will address the issue of these repeated tragedies at the 25-6 June European Council meeting. Continue reading “Migreurop: Bridges, not weapons!”