current system failing refugees

Editorials

current system failing refugees

Refugees are being failed by a two-tier system which leaves people homeless and destitute even when granted the right to stay, and seriously damages their prospects of integration. The ineffective two-tier system has been further exposed by an All Party Parliamentary Group report this week supported by the Refugee Council; which pointed out in stark detail the disparity in refugee protection. While the report is positive about the support provided by one resettlement scheme, it finds that people whose refugee status is granted following an asylum claim are left to…

Refugees are being failed by a two-tier system which leaves people homeless and destitute even when granted the right to stay, and seriously damages their prospects of integration. The ineffective…

Snap general election on the cards

As a surprise general election approaches, migrants must not become a political football. Some will use this election to call for tougher border controls, more detention centres, and more money spent on locking people up rather than helping people. There is too much at stake to give in to such rhetoric - and it does not represent the fair-minded, compassionate majority in this country. Over the past years, it has become all too common to see migrants attacked, scapegoated and used as pawns in political agendas, while being…

As a surprise general election approaches, migrants must not become a political football. Some will use this election to call for tougher border controls, more detention centres, and more…

Hate crime on the rise again

This week has seen high-profile and horrific hate crimes hit our streets. Last Friday a 17-year old Kurdish Iranian asylum seeker was beaten by around 20 thugs in Croydon, until he was "unrecognisable" to his friends. Reker Ahmed remained in hospital at the time of writing (5 April) in a serious condition as police continued to hunt a dozen or more suspects. Multiple people - including teenagers - have been charged. And two days earlier in Stroud a 15-year old Polish boy out walking with his girlfriend was attacked by…

This week has seen high-profile and horrific hate crimes hit our streets. Last Friday a 17-year old Kurdish Iranian asylum seeker was beaten by around 20 thugs in Croydon, until…

Government must uphold our rights

On a momentous occasion in this country's history – the triggering of Article 50 – we call on the UK Government to commit to upholding our rights. They must immediately and unconditionally secure the rights of EEA migrants, their families and dependents, as part of respecting, maintaining and strengthening rights for all. This moment is also an opportunity to put an end to the negative rhetoric and scapegoating of migrants and end the blame game for pressure on services and lack of resources and investment. It’s time to start recognising…

On a momentous occasion in this country's history – the triggering of Article 50 – we call on the UK Government to commit to upholding our rights. They must immediately…

Abolish the Dublin Regulation

Our report, ‘Roads to Nowhere’, released today (March 15), has laid bare the harrowing experiences of Syrian and other refugees crossing Europe, in a bid to abolish the Dublin Regulation and replace it with a more humane system. The Dublin Regulation, the EU policy instrument regulating responsibility for asylum applications, stipulates that asylum seekers are the responsibility of the EU Member State in which they first arrive. Exemptions on transfers of refugees under the Dublin Regulation expire on March 15, putting hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK…

Our report, ‘Roads to Nowhere’, released today (March 15), has laid bare the harrowing experiences of Syrian and other refugees crossing Europe, in a bid to abolish the Dublin Regulation…

Parliament must guarantee rights now

Parliament's Comittee for Exiting the European Union has joined the Lords and ten groups representing UK-born migrants overseas in calling for resident EU citizens' right to stay to be granted immediately. This is welcome, and it has been deeply disappointing to see Parliament miss the opportunity to safeguard rights for EU citizens. The pressure is now on the Government to change course urgently. 332 MPs recently voted against an amendment to protect residence rights for EU nationals in Britain. The amendment would have ended the confusion that millions who live…

Parliament's Comittee for Exiting the European Union has joined the Lords and ten groups representing UK-born migrants overseas in calling for resident EU citizens' right to stay to be granted…

Bring Irene Clennell home

Irene Clennell, a grandmother from County Durham, was forced onto a plane last Sunday (26 February) with just minutes to say goodbye to her family. Irene is a friend of ours, who contacted Migrant Voice last year to tell her story. At that time, it was a story of inflexible bureaucracy. Irene had jumped through hoops to complete complex application processes, only to be told on more than one occasion that she’d been provided with the wrong form. Finally, her leave to remain was revoked. A few weeks later, without…

Irene Clennell, a grandmother from County Durham, was forced onto a plane last Sunday (26 February) with just minutes to say goodbye to her family. Irene is a friend of…

Our toxic migration debate must change

Those who have worked to create a vicious environment for migrants over the last years may be getting what they want – new figures show Europeans leaving the UK in record numbers. And they failed to think about the consequences of their actions. This is not just about the Brexit vote. It would be perfectly possible to leave the European Union in a way that didn’t throw resident Europeans into turmoil, risk fragile local economies and slam our doors shut to the rest of the world. But there has been…

Those who have worked to create a vicious environment for migrants over the last years may be getting what they want – new figures show Europeans leaving the UK in…

One Day Without Us

Monday 20th February is “One Day Without Us” - a national day of action on 20th February 2017, in support migrants living, working, and studying in Britain. The broad group behind the event is organising migrants to celebrate everything that we bring to Britain, and asking everyone to imagine a world without migrants and migration. Like others, this nation was built on migrants. And like many other nations, there have always been people willing to welcome new migrants, from Huguenot refugees in the 17th Century to those who gathered…

Monday 20th February is “One Day Without Us” - a national day of action on 20th February 2017, in support migrants living, working, and studying in Britain. The broad group…

We call for improved asylum housing

Migrant Voice’s research into the housing conditions of asylum seekers reveals reports of routine disrepair, lack of hygiene, and inappropriate behaviour from housing officers. Our report, centring on dozens of respondents in Birmingham and the West Midlands, shows over half of respondents stating that their accommodation was unclean, and they were not provided with cleaning equipment. 44% reported infestation including mice, rats and bedbugs. 50% recorded delays in response to repair requests, including repairs to the electricity and water supply. Only 22% said they felt satisified with their accommodation, and…

Migrant Voice’s research into the housing conditions of asylum seekers reveals reports of routine disrepair, lack of hygiene, and inappropriate behaviour from housing officers. Our report, centring on dozens of…

current system failing refugees

Editorials