Migrant Children's Project Newsletter
April 2018
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In the last week, the government has faced criticism and backlash over its treatment of the Windrush generation, who were brought to the UK between 1948 and 1971 as British citizens from Caribbean countries, but were never formally naturalised or applied for a British passport. The government has now issued an apology to those affected, but the 'Windrush' scandal has shone a light on a number of problems facing young migrants:
Citizenship fees
In the wake of the scandal, the Home Office has promised the Windrush generation that they will be granted British citizenship by waiving citizenship fees for those affected and their families. However, this still leaves thousands of migrant young people and families in the UK who are entitled to British Citizenship having to pay the fees, which have now increased to £1,012 for children and £1,206 for adults. For more information on how migrant children, young people and families are affected by this, see our registering children as British citizens fact sheet here. Undocumented young people Although the government has committed to resolving all Windrush cases within two weeks, much more needs to be done to address the needs of all long-settled migrant children, young people and families. The ‘hostile environment’ agenda has not only further complicated the immigration application process and toughened up the immigration rules on long residence, but also significantly increased fees for immigration applications, for long term residents, leaving many undocumented families faced with the hard decision of having to choose which child’s case is most urgent for them to pay for. Campaigners from Let Us Learn, a group of migrant young people who have tirelessly worked to better represent migrant communities staged a vigil outside Downing Street to not only show support for generation Windrush, but also to demonstrate against the ever-increasing costs of immigration applications. For more information, listen to Let Us Learn and Coram on Radio 4's Money Box live: The Cost of Citizenship and read our report 'This is my home'.
For further information on advice on regularising status, read our detailed guide: Securing permanent status: existing legal routes for children and young people without leave to remain in the UK. Legal representation
The government has denied that the 2013 cuts to legal aid in immigration cases would have affected the Windrush generation,despite the fact that legal aid was previously available to the ‘Windrush children’, when applying for documents to confirm their immigration status. The 2013 legal aid cuts to areas of law such as immigration, family and education, which have made it increasingly difficult for children, young people and families to access justice are currently under review. Although there will not be any public consultation on the review this year, CCLC will be feeding evidence from its services into the review. If you have any comments or evidence you would like us to contribute, please email us at: mcp@coramclc.org.uk. For more information on legal aid and access to justice for children, young people and families, see our new report here.
If you have queries about these or other issues, please contact our advice line on 0207 636 8505 or email mcpadvice@coramclc.org.uk. Our upcoming training courses in 2018 Our courses can now be booked online - just visit our Eventbrite page! An introduction to the rights of children and young people in the immigration system
Coram Campus, London Tuesday 1 May 2018, 2 - 5pm Wednesday, 25 July 2018, 2 - 5pm Access to education for migrant children
Coram Campus, London Tuesday, 29 May 2018, 2pm - 5pm The rights and entitlements of young refugees and migrants Coram Campus, London Thursday 19 April 2018, 10am - 4:30pm Tuesday, 26 June 2018, 10am - 4:30pm For more information and to book, please see our eventbrite page. To commission in-house training for your organisation, please see our website. New reports and guidance The impact of the 'hostile environment' on children and young people
The Childrens Society and CCLC, April 2018
A guide to the Hostile Environment- the border controls dividing our communities and how we can bring them down
Edited by Liberty, April 2018
Latest news
Amber Rudd resigns hours after Guardian publishes deportation targets letter
The Guardian, 30 April 2018
Home Office agencies at the heart of Windrush scandal rife with discrimination and harassment, employees say
The Independent, 23 April 2018 Hostile environment policy leaving doctors without visas, say NHS officials
The Guardian, 27 April 2018
Amber Rudd vows to scrap targets for removing immigrants from UK The Guardian, 26 April 2018
Young asylum seekers ‘face blanket study ban’
The Observer, 25 April 2018
Money Box Live: the Cost of Citizenship
BBC, 25 April 2018
App for EU citizens to get UK residency after Brexit won't work on Apple phones, admits Home Office
The Telegraph, 24 April 2018
How children and grandchildren of Windrush have been affected
Channel 4 News, 24 April 2018
Home Office data exemption sparks fears of further Windrush Scandals
The Guardian, 23 April 2018
The Observer view on Theresa May’s hateful ‘hostile environment’ immigration policy
The Observer, 22 April 2018
UK urged to launch EU citizen registration drive in pubs and schools
The Guardian, 19 April 2018
Commonwealth youth forced to pay thousands or risk 'illegal' status
The Guardian, 18 April 2018
Windrush generation is not alone – children of EU-born citizens could be next
The Conversation, 18 April 2018
Teachers won’t forget the botched attempt to create a “hostile environment” in our schools
The Newstatesman, 18 April 2018
Have fees stopped you from applying for UK citizenship?
The Guardian, 18 April 2018
New immigration provisions are resulting in sudden study bans
Right to Remain, 18 April 2018 Theresa May's 'hostile environment' at heart of Windrush scandal
The Guardian, 17 April 2018
What Theresa May’s treatment of Generation Windrush means for other immigrants
The New Statesman, 17 April 2018
MPs urge May to resolve immigration status of Windrush children
The Guardian, 16 April 2018
The Observer view on the UK’s increasingly harsh immigration policy
The Observer, 15 April 2018
Unsettled Status? Which EU Citizens are at Risk of Failing to Secure their Rights after Brexit?
The Migration Observatory, 12 April 2018
Hounding Commonwealth citizens is no accident. It’s cruelty by design
The Guardian, 12 April 2018
'Serious flaws' in UK immigration system, Law Society warns
BBC, 12 April 2018
DfE set to axe pupil data-sharing deal with Home Office
The Guardian, 9 April 2018
DfE ends divisive pupil nationality data collection
Schools Week, 9 April 2018
Young asylum-seekers 'face blanket study ban'
The Observer, 8 April 2018
Homelessness, exploitation, failure: The price of May's anti-migrant project
Politics.co.uk, 6 April 2018
Above-inflation increase in immigration and nationality fees for 2018/9
Free Movement, 4 April 2018
Grandfather resident in the UK since 1961 threatened with deportation given reprieve
Channel 4 News, 4 April 2018
Home Office letter nudges asylum seekers to return home
The Guardian, 2 April 2018 Let us know what you think! Do you use our website, publications or advice line? Your thoughts and feedback help us ensure that we're providing the right information and support. Please take two minutes to complete our short survey. |
