Briefings and Conference Reports
Factsheet and FAQ on Expulsion of homeless EEA Nationals
August 2010
Recently the UK Border Agency (UKBA) have launched a pilot scheme attempting to remove homeless EEA nationals, who do not wish to leave, on the basis that they are not exercising residence rights in the UK. The UKBA is aiming towards a combined strategy for dealing with homelessness, underpinned by the prospect of immigration enforcement for those who do not comply. However, the basis for expulsion on which the new scheme relies is yet to be tested in the courts. AIRE Centre, ILPA and MRN believe that this scheme of coercive expulsion is unlawful and needs to be challenged. Read the MRN running commentary on the issue.
Department of Health review of access to the NHS by foreign nationals: Consultation on proposals
June 2010
The Department of Health (DoH) consultation on the review of access to the NHS by foreign nationals, launched in February 2010,has been long-awaited. It has emerged out of a joint review in this area embarked upon by the DoH and the Home Office in 2007. In 2009, the joint review reported back with a series of policy proposals. The consultation seeks public opinion on these proposals, as well as some other changes to the charging system which would have significant implications for migrants and refugees in the UK. MRN has put forward its own consultation on the proposals.
MRN's e-briefing on the proposed ‘cap’ on non-EU economic migration to the UK
June 2010
In June 2010 the coalition government announced that it would be moving towards the introduction of a 'cap' on economic migrants coming to the UK from outside Europe. It launched a formal consultation on this policy, alongside a further consultation on the cap launched by the Migration Advisory Committee. MRN's e-briefing on the cap outlines the policy proposal and consultations, as well as highlighting key concerns about the introduction of an immigration cap.
MRN's consultation on charging for immigration and visa applications
November 2009
Our view is that the proposals outlined in the consultation document would have substantial implications for migrants’ rights in the UK. The increasing costs of fees for visa and immigration applications are already an ongoing concern for those seeking to enter and extend their stay within the UK, whether as an economic migrant, student or as a family member. This does not affect everyone equally - the high cost of entering the UK immigration system is a particular problem for applicants applying from developing countries.
MRN's response to the Home Office Earned Citizenship consultation
October 2009
The introduction of further ‘flexibility’ into the naturalization process as presented in the consultation document has no merits. Migrants need a stable context in which to plan ahead as far as possible within what can be very uncertain circumstances. It can be expected that migrant communities would experience a flexible 'earned citizenship' system as highly unfair.
The points test would add an unnecessary stage to an increasingly complex and prescriptive citizenship process. The outline given in this consultation document would effectively act as a further set of mandatory requirements for people moving towards settlement in the UK. The government has presented no evidence to explain or justify an additional point-scoring exercise, which would also presumably incur further costs for migrants.
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