‘Migrant Rainbow’ – August 2024

Month 2 of our summary of migrant justice news

Local / Community Updates

On the 3rd August, a far-right rally in Leeds was drastically outnumbered by counter protesters in a brilliant display of anti-racist community and migrant welcoming rhetoric, showing our community to be strong and united in the face of hate.

RETAS Leeds successfully hosted their first ever comedy fundraising event on August 14th at 92 Degrees in Leeds, helping to raise vital funds for RETAS clients! Community fundraiser events like these bring everyone together whilst simultaneously contributing to migrant justice.

A recipe book produced with those in the asylum system was on display in Leeds in collaboration with LASSN and Leeds University Library Galleries as part of a summer exhibition called ‘don’t play with your food’, from 6th July to 1st September.

Leeds Refugee Forum hosted a timetable of events over August 2024, including a Language and Arts Summer Camp, Men’s and Women’s Wellbeing Groups, and SIM Card Drop-in Sessions.

Migrant Action Updates

In early August, the Migrant Action family headed to the Yorkshire Dales to engage in a strategic thinking residential and strategy day. Whilst also engaging in rest, the residential was filled with thought provoking reflections about Migrant Action’s journey and future path. The overall theme of the residential was one of transformation and a commitment to tackling the causes of migrant injustice rather than the symptoms. We look forward to the reflections from this residential illuminating and improving our work.

Migrant Action welcomed two new volunteers over August, Holly and Emma! Whilst they will get their own introductions soon, we are very excited to have them on board and contributing to the research areas of our strategy and pushing to counter harmful narratives about migration.

Migrant Action was so pleased to receive positive feedback from our workshop in June on parenting for migrant families in the UK. The workshop was reported to be ‘very informative’ and left those involved feeling ‘empowered and recharged’, and ‘encouraged creatively in thinking towards change’. This feedback makes us feel so happy and proud and we are excited to host more workshops that aim to provide migrant communities with knowledge exchange and empowerment.

General / National Updates

250 refugee and migrant charities have come together in solidarity to sign an open letter urging for an end to the use of demonising and dehumanising language seen in politics and media around migration, demanding that the outbreak of far-right, racist violence across the country this month is used as a turning point away from this language.

The country’s oldest mosque in Liverpool shared food with far-right protesters and gave a tour inside. The Chair of the mosque, Dr Abdul Hamid, said he wants to spread a message of hope and coming together. Following the nights of violent disruption, communities all over the country joined together to clean up their neighbourhoods, including in Middlesbrough, and Hull.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 1 Stage 2 was launched in August, which provides a route for some families who were separated during the evacuation of Kabul in August 2021 to be reunited in the UK. This is mainly for adults in the UK to reunite with spouses, partners and children (who were under 18 at the time of the evacuation), or for children in the UK to reunite with parents and siblings (under the age of 18). Referrals can be made only until 30 October 2024. The launch has been welcomed by refugee charities, with Afghan families resettled in Yorkshire featuring on national coverage around this launch.

Free Movement found that only 4% of people who claimed asylum in the last 12 months have had their claims processed.

As claimed in its pre-election manifesto, the government has announced a series of measures to reduce irregular migration and increase deportations. The actions include plans to reopen two detention centres, and has been criticised by Amnesty International who accused the Labour Party of ‘reheating the last Government’s rhetoric.’ However, the change in language from ‘illegal’ to ‘irregular’ migration is observed.

The Department of Health and Social Care alongside the Home Office have published a help sheet to assist adult social care providers applying for a Certificate of Sponsorship to sponsor care workers overseas on the health and care visa route. It outlines the application process and provides tips on providing evidence for the genuine vacancy requirement.

Linked, there has been a huge decrease in monthly applications for Health and Care Worker visas, following the policy change in March 2024 which prevents workers bringing family members with the to the UK. There have been 81% fewer applications when comparing April-July 2023 and 2024. The National Care Association commented that some staff had returned home or moved to countries with ‘a less hostile environment around immigration.’

All biometric resident permit (BRP) holders can now apply for an eVisa without waiting for an invitation to apply, as had previously been the case. A video to help people to navigate the new system has been produced, however applicants are reporting technical issues, especially with older phone models.

Wissam Asaad, a  Palestinian nurse who came to the UK as part of a refugee recruitment scheme, has shared with the Nursing Times his experience of joining the NHS – how he came to be part of the Displaced Talent Mobility Visa employment scheme, the challenges he faced and the support he received as part of his integration into the NHS. Amongst many stories, he shared that the English test was a challenge for him, but that he found his local community welcoming and supportive.

According to a recent public opinion survey conducted in June, a majority of people support UK universities’ efforts to attract highly qualified international students, even if doing so would result in an increase in immigration.

Two students from migrant backgrounds, Tienga Ngale and Vishal Udaya Kumar, have been shortlisted for Social Work student of the year 2024.

A new report on the integration of Hong Kongers in the UK found that unemployed individuals typically reported lower levels of integration across most indicators.

New official data shows for the 2022-2023 academic year, the UK welcomed a record high of over 750,000 overseas students. Contrastingly, sponsored student applications fell by 16% during January-July 2024

Proposals by the previous government to restrict social housing to long term UK residents have been dropped. The plans would have introduced a 10 year ‘UK connection test’ affecting many migrants who were already on a council waiting list.

After a 3 year campaign by the Linda Norgrove Foundation, 19 Afghan female trainee doctors have arrived to Edinburgh to complete their medical degrees that the Taliban denied them finishing. The foundation campaigned for safe passage and student visas, resulting in Scottish ministers changing the law to treat the women as home students eligible for free tuition. One of the students, Omulbanin Sultani, said that the foundation ‘had saved our lives in every sense of the word’ with their support. (The Guardian)