Home Office sued by family of Windrush man refused UK citizenship – The Guardian

‘The family of a Windrush man denied British citizenship on the grounds that he failed a good character requirement are suing the Home Office to try to change legislation, arguing the rules are racially discriminatory.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Racism within the Windrush compensation scheme – The Guardian

‘The Guardian’s Amelia Gentleman wrote her first story on the Windrush scandal almost three years ago – yet she is still hearing from people facing injustice. Alexandra Ankrah, the most senior black Home Office employee in the team responsible for the Windrush compensation scheme, discusses why she resigned this year, describing the scheme as systemically racist and unfit for purpose while Samantha Cooper describes her frustrations with trying to access financial help.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shamima Begum: Justice and the jihadi bride – BBC News

Posted November 23rd, 2020 in appeals, children, citizenship, government departments, Islam, news, Supreme Court, terrorism by sally

‘Shamima Begum ran away to Syria as a 15-year-old to join the self-proclaimed Islamic State. But when the terror group was defeated, she ended up in a refugee camp in Syria.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Windrush: two years on, victims describe long waits and ‘abysmal’ payouts – The Guardian

‘Applicants to the Windrush compensation scheme have spoken about the difficulties they have experienced in securing payouts. Some are concerned by the long delays between applying and being awarded damages, others have expressed unhappiness about the amount they have been offered.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Windrush: At least nine victims died before getting compensation – BBC News

‘At least nine people have died before receiving money applied for through the Windrush compensation scheme, according to Home Office figures.’

Full Story

BBC News, 2nd November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fijian-born British soldiers lose latest legal fight to stay in UK – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2020 in armed forces, citizenship, immigration, judicial review, medical treatment, news by sally

‘Eight Fijian-born soldiers who served with the British army in Iraq and Afghanistan have been rebuffed in their initial attempt to seek a judicial review of the handling of their immigration claims.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Windrush man wrongly classified as illegal immigrant left destitute for a year – The Guardian

‘An electrician who was wrongly classified as being an illegal immigrant, despite living in London for more than 45 years, was destitute as he waited a year for the Windrush taskforce to decide on his application to stay in the UK, the parliamentary ombudsman has ruled.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Brexit law will let vulnerable EU citizens apply late to stay in UK – The Guardian

‘The government is to fast-track legislation that it believes will stop vulnerable EU citizens becoming Windrush-type victims of Brexit, it has emerged.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Windrush report author attacks Home Office’s response – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2020 in citizenship, colonies, compensation, diversity, government departments, news, reports by tracey

‘The Home Office has failed to make adequate progress in reviewing its hostile environment policies and must swiftly prove that it is not merely paying “lip service” to the idea of reform, the author of a damning report into the Windrush scandal has told MPs.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Brexit law will allow vulnerable EU citizens to apply late to stay in UK – The Guardian

‘The government is to fast-track legislation it believes will stop vulnerable EU citizens becoming Windrush-type victims of Brexit, it has emerged.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog warns Home Office must use ‘neutral language’ after outrage over ‘activist lawyers’ tweet – The Independent

‘A Home Office watchdog has said the department must use “neutral language” after its repeated use of the term “activist lawyer” prompted outrage.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘I have nothing’: Roma people left without support and at risk of exploitation due to digital-only status – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2020 in benefits, brexit, citizenship, EC law, immigration, news by tracey

‘People from Britain’s Roma community are being left unable to access vital support and are exposed to exploitation due to the government’s new digital-only status for EU citizens, research reveals.’

Full Story

The Independent, 5th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Public law children case update: contact, nationality and stays – Local Government Lawyer

‘Georgina Dalton summarises the latest public law children rulings, covering issues such as contact during care, changing the nationality of children in care, and practice on granting short-term stays.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 18th September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Passports: Foreign law must be proved by expert evidence – EIN Blog

‘Hussein and Another (Status of passports: foreign law) [2020] UKUT 250 (IAC): CMG Ockelton VP has explained that (i) a person who holds a genuine passport, apparently issued to him, and not falsified or altered, has to be regarded as a national of the State that issued the passport, (ii) the burden of proving the contrary lies on the claimant in an asylum case, and (iii) foreign law (including nationality law) is a matter of evidence, to be proved by expert evidence directed specifically to the point in issue. The appellant Mr Hussein, who had permission to appeal, and the applicant Mr Abdulrasool, who was seeking permission to appeal, were father and son who made asylum claims, which were refused. The applicant, who was born in 2000, additionally claimed that he was so dependent on his parents that it would be disproportionate to remove him from the UK. Mr Hussein’s wife and two minor children were included in the appellant’s claim as his dependents. Both men gave their oral evidence in a hearing before FTTJ McAll in January 2020 as did Mr Hussein’s brother. The SSHD was not present and FTTJ McAll considered Mr Hussein’s claimed history in detail. He decided that he was untruthful and concluded that he had fabricated important parts of his account supporting his asylum claim. He decided that Mr Hussein was a national of Tanzania and could be returned there. He disbelieved the asylum claim and concluded that there was no good article 8 reason why he should not leave the UK and return to his country of nationality. Both appeals were dismissed.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 7th September 2020

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Family Law Newsletter – Spire Barristers

Posted August 27th, 2020 in care orders, children, citizenship, contact orders, coronavirus, news by sally

‘Issue #37 of Spire Barristers’ Family Law Newsletter: edited by Connie Purdy and Taz Irshad; news and Case Reviews by Georgina Dalton. Georgina commences pupillage at Spire Barristers in September 2020.’

Full Story

Spire Barristers, 26th August 2020

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk

Windrush payout scheme not fit for purpose, say lawyers – The Guardian

‘The Windrush compensation scheme is failing to provide access to justice and is worsening people’s trauma, according to a letter sent from nine law firms to the home secretary.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Naturalisation for EU citizens: comprehensive sickness insurance, the elephant in the room – EIN Blog

Posted August 19th, 2020 in brexit, citizenship, EC law, health, immigration, insurance, news by sally

‘As we head towards the end of the UK’s Brexit implementation period on 31 December 2020, the thoughts of many EU nationals (here I use the term to include EEA & Swiss citizens too) who have lived, studied and worked in this country, often for many years, are turning to becoming British.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 19th August 2020

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Court of Appeal hands down ruling on changing nationality of children in care – Local Government Lawyer

‘A local authority cannot seek to change the nationality of children in care without the matter being considered by the High Court, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Windrush Lawyers: ‘The Government Is Placing Boulders In The Way Of Justice’ – Each Other

‘It has been more than a year since the government launched its scheme to compensate victims of the Windrush scandal, and at least five applicants have died before receiving a penny. EachOther speaks to Windrush lawyers about the “boulders” being placed in the way of justice and what needs to be done.’

Full Story

Each Other, 6th August 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Shamima Begum: Bid to return in citizenship fight goes to Supreme Court – BBC News

‘The case of runaway Shamima Begum, who is fighting to return to the UK from Syria, will go to the Supreme Court.’

Full Story

BBC News, 31st July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk