IRR News
Court rules against unauthorised police surveillance
Last week, at Inner London Crown Court, three activists were cleared of charges of obstructing the police as they attempted to film and photograph those attending two London NoBorders meetings in south London in June 2008.
29 July 2010 (277 words)
guardian
Ruling on asylum seekers right to work undermined by Home Office
The Supreme Court ruled this week that asylum seekers making a second claim for refugee status should be allowed to work. However, the Home Office is seeking to restrict asylum seekers to jobs in sectors where there is a shortage of skilled workers.
29 July 2010 (external article)
south wales echo UKBA in Cardiff cleared of racism
The UK Border Agency in Cardiff has been cleared of allegations, made by a former employee, of the mistreatment of asylum seekers, although the credibility of the internal investigation has been questioned.
29 July 2010 (external article)
independent Fast-track removals and dawn raids condemned
The high court has ruled that the 'exceptions policy' of deporting people with little or no notice is unlawful, while a new report by the Independent Chief Inspector of the UKBA has condemned early morning raids on asylum seeking families.
27 July 2010 (external article)
guardian Fast-track deportations ruled unlawful
The fast-track process for deporting vulnerable failed asylum seekers with little or no notice, a practice that became part of the Home Office's 'exceptions policy' in March 2007, has been ruled unlawful by the high court.
26 July 2010 (external article)
guardian Yarl's Wood family unit to close
The government has announced that the family wing at Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre, which detains as many as 1,000 children a year, will close, while the rest of the centre will continue to detain adults.
22 July 2010 (external article)
independent Prison inspector issues warning
The outgoing Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dame Anne Owers, has said the UK Border Agency should not be responsible for detaining asylum seekers and immigrants, following concern about the brutal treatment of detainees in immigration removal centres.
14 July 2010 (external article)
guardian Gatwick deportation centre deemed 'unsafe'
A report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons has criticised the privately run detention centre Brook House for poor living conditions and use of force by the staff.
12 July 2010 (external article)
Metro v Metr0
Associated Newspapers started legal proceedings last Friday as campaigners flooded London streets with a spoof edition of the Metro newspaper.
9 July 2010 (315 words)
Two men suffer injuries after immigration raid
This week, two men thought to be Pakistani, suffered injuries and were taken to hosptal following an immigration raid by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in Balham, South London.
9 July 2010 (386 words)
law gazette A third of 'trusted' immigration practices face closure
The Legal Services Commission has denied contracts to 30 per cent of immigration and asylum law firms with others being given contracts too small to allow them to continue.
8 July 2010 (external article)
law gazette RMJ clients lose High Court bid
Former clients of Refugee and Migrant Justice, whose contract was terminated by the Legal Services Commission, have lost a case to allow RMJ to continue representing them.
8 July 2010 (external article)
Supreme Court upholds asylum rights for gays
An important legal ruling has clarified refugee law and should provide better protection for those claiming asylum on the basis of their sexuality.
8 July 2010 (387 words)
independent Two gay asylum seekers win appeal to stay
Two gay asylum seekers have won appeals to stay in the UK after the Supreme Court ruled they should not be refused asylum on the grounds that they could be 'discreet' about their sexuality to avoid persecution.
7 July 2010 (external article)
bbc news Home Office advice to LBGT asylum seekers criticised
Home Office advice to rejected LGBT asylum seekers to conceal their sexuality has come under fire from the UNHCR and the Supreme Court.
6 July 2010 (external article)
independent The reality behind deportations
An in depth investigation highlighting the part played by the private sector in deportations and their methods.
5 July 2010 (external article)
glasgow evening times Funeral held for family of three Russian asylum seekers
The funeral of the Russian Serykh family, who apparently took their own lives by jumping from the fifteenth floor of the Red Road flats in Glasgow, has taken place.
1 July 2010 (external article)
interview
Fighting ghosts: an interview with Husein Al-Samamara
Below we publish an interview with Husein Al-Samamara, currently subjected to draconian immigration bail conditions in the UK as he fights against his deportation to Jordan, where he was imprisoned and tortured.
1 July 2010 (3812 words)
comment
Child detention review: the challenge for NGOs
By Frances Webber
How should the voluntary sector respond to the government's review of children's detention?
24 June 2010 (1211 words)
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A. Sivanandan