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UK: Government continues work on "hostile environment" for migrants

12 August 2015

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In 2013 it was revealed that the UK government had drawn up plans to create a "hostile environment" for irregular migrants. Two recent developments - a reduction of financial support for asylum-seeking families and the targeting of specific nationalities for deportation - show that the government is continuing its efforts.

Charities have condemned cuts to support payments for asylum-seekers and their families:

"Tens of thousands of asylum-seekers with children will be pushed deeper into poverty by “cruel” cuts to their support payments which come into force on 10 August, leading charities including the British Red Cross are warning."

See:

  • 'Cruel' cuts to asylum-seekers' support payments will push children into poverty, claim charities (The Independent, link)
  • Drastic cuts to asylum support will plunge families deeper into poverty, warn UK charities (Refugee Action, link)
  • Report of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Asylum Support for Children and Young People (Statewatch Journal, March 2013)

    The second move reveals "targeted" deportations, in which the Home Office works to "to target people of a specific nationality if there is a flight due to go to their home country". These are based on new rules that centre on the idea 'deport first, appeal later':

    "Border officials have been criticised after it emerged they target specific nationalities for deportation in order to fill up flights they have chartered. Activists said the practice led the government to remove people who still have active legal claims."

    See:

  • Officials deporting migrants by nationality 'to fill chartered planes' (The Guardian, link)
  • In depth: Collective expulsion: the case against Britain's mass deportation flights (Corporate Watch, September 2013, pdf)

    Background: Immigration bill: Theresa May defends plans to create 'hostile environment' (The Guardian, October 2013, link)

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