Migrant Children's Project Newsletter
September 2020

Lone children claiming asylum

There have been multiple news reports this month on the plight of asylum-seekers making dangerous journeys across the English channel. Many of those seeking to get to the UK are children. These are vulnerable children seeking safety, to whom the government has a duty of care. Kent social services recently said they had no capacity to look after child asylum seekers and there has been a lack of clarity over the situation for children arriving in the UK. It appears that children are being held at detention facilities for an unknown period of time, before being transferred to local authorities under the National Transfer Scheme. It is crucial that the Home Office and local authorities immediately put measures in place to ensure appropriate accommodation is available on arrival for all unaccompanied children seeking safety, both now and in the future.

Nationality and local authorities
Coram have long been concerned about the number children and young people in care who need to resolve their nationality and immigration status. Local authorities can fail to identify or recognise when a child in their care needs legal advice and representation. Thishas become a bigger issue since the UK left the EU and now those with EU rights need urgent advice on nationality and immigration issues. The Court of Appeal recently handed down a judgment that provides some limitations on a local authority's role as a corporate parent to resolve the child's status. In cases where a child is a national of a country where dual nationality is not permitted, and the parents object, the local authority will require a High Court order. It is still crucial that local authorities resolve nationality and immigration issues for all children in their care, and ensure that they receive good quality legal advice on these issues as soon as possible.
Europe's dreamers
The Guardian has recently covered the situation of Europe's Dreamers. In the USA, Dreamers are undocumented children and young people who as a group have campaigned for legal status. Coram's Ijeoma Moore spoke about the impact of the hostile environment in the UK and the impact this has had on undocumented children and young people in the UK. We Belong campaign for young migrants living the UK to be treated equally and fairly in the UK. Their recent report, Normality is a Luxury, examines the issues around the hostile environment and 10 year route to settlement, recommending a series of steps that can be taken to reform the 10 year route.
If you have any queries about these or other issues, please contact our advice line at mcpadvice@coramclc.org.uk.
CCLC Online training

Latest news
Brexit: EU rejects UK proposal for reuniting child asylum seekers
The Guardian, 3rd September 2020
Priti Patel under fire as Home Office bids to target child asylum seekers
The Observer, 30th August 2020
What happens to migrant children after they reach the UK? How young asylum seekers attempt to build a life in Britain
The i Paper, 28th August 2020
Yarl's Wood to house arrivals from small boats crossing Channel
The Guardian, 18th August 2020
Child Migrants to be sent away from Kent as council reaches capacity
BBC News, 18th August 2020
'Immeasurable harm’: More than 1 million children in UK do not have British or Irish citizenship, figures show
The Independent, 14th August 2020
'We want to build a life': Europe's paperless young people speak out
The Guardian, 3rd August 2020

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.
You can read our privacy policy here. If you have any questions or concerns about your data, you can contact us on mcp@coramclc.org.uk.