IRR News
guardian
Government wants access to travel data
The government is to fight a proposed EU ban on using data on travellers to combat illegal migration.
7 August 2008 (external article)
reading evening post Funding severely cut for Reading immigration service
The remit for immigration advice has been transferred from Reading Council for Racial Equality to the Citizens Advice Bureau, concern has been expressed that the CAB is insufficiently equipped to deal with their service users.
1 August 2008 (external article)
bbc news Attempts to stop 'sham' marriages ruled illegal
The Home Office has been ordered to reform its powers to deny foreigners permission to marry as a means of tackling migration scams.
1 August 2008 (external article)
Victory for Southall Black Sisters
On 18 July at the High Court, Southall Black Sisters (SBS) won a major victory against Ealing Council which had cut funding for its services for BME women suffering from domestic violence.
24 July 2008 (508 words)
guardian Bail bonds and electronic tags for migrants
Migrants awaiting deportation from Britain, will be required to provide bail bonds and wear electronic tags to avoid detention, according to Home Office draft legislation.
16 July 2008 (external article)
eu business African human rights groups slam EU immigration plans
Planned EU agreements on immigration have faced condemnation in Africa for criminalising immigrants and building an impenetrable fortress around Europe.
11 July 2008 (external article)
independent Deportation threat lifted from asylum seekers
The government has announced a retreat on forced removals of Zimbabwean and Darfuri asylum seekers after facing criticism for pressing ahead with deportations to these countries.
11 July 2008 (external article)
bbc news Visa warning for 11 countries
The Home Office has warned 11 countries including Brazil, South Africa, Malaysia and Trinidad that their citizens will need visas to visit the UK unless they 'significantly reduce' the risk they pose.
10 July 2008 (external article)
press release
Campaigners for an academic boycott of Israel analyse Europe's complicity
In the latest issue of the IRR's journal Race & Class, Hilary Rose and Steven Rose ask why and how a small Middle Eastern country has successfully positioned itself as 'European', even though it is in breach of Europe's humanitarian conventions and condemned by many UN resolutions.
3 July 2008 (264 words)
independent Asylum seekers put at risk by law
A Court of Appeal judge has warned that Labour's tough stance on immigration may have forced courts to send asylum seekers back to 'torture or death'.
2 July 2008 (external article)
guardian Harman produces watered-down equality bill
A bill to tackle discrimination, intended to provide fairer job opportunities for women and ethnic minorities has been published. However criticisms have been made that it excludes the private sector.
27 June 2008 (external article)
bbc news Cash bond plan for non-EU immigrants' relatives dropped
Plans to make immigrant families pay a cash bond for relatives visiting from outside the EU have been dropped. Instead, there will be fines or the threat of jail if family members overstay.
26 June 2008 (external article)
guardian Nine government departments unsure on equality targets
An answer to a parliamentary question has revealed that nine government departments refused or failed to respond to questions as to whether government targets on equality were being met.
26 June 2008 (external article)
bbc news Bicester plans cost £29 million
A commons committee has found that the government spent £29 million on Bicester accommodation centre for asylum seekers which was never built, with £8 million being paid as a termination fee to the contractor.
12 June 2008 (external article)
independent Government 'wins' first vote on 42-day detention
The government won a crucial House of Commons vote on the proposed detention of terror suspects for 42 days, relying on the votes of Democratic Unionist Party MPs.
12 June 2008 (external article)
Action on the EU Return Directive
Asylum campaigners are urging action as the European Parliament prepares to vote, on 18 June 2008, on the 'Return Directive'.
12 June 2008 (178 words)
comment
Discrimination in the name of integration
By Liz Fekete
The UK government should heed the lessons from a recent report criticising the Netherlands for discriminatory pre-immigration tests for migrants.
5 June 2008 (611 words)
Distorted integration debate must be challenged
Islamophobia is running rough-shod over the whole integration debate.
22 May 2008 (223 words)
bbc news Committee says 42 days unnecessary
A joint select committee has found that proposals to extend pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects to 42 days is 'wholly unnecessary'.
15 May 2008 (external article)
bbc news SDLP challenges secret inquest plan
The SDLP in northern Ireland has voiced concerns over government plans to hold inquests in secret, a proposal under new anti-terror laws, which could have implications for cases outstanding in northern Ireland.
13 May 2008 (external article)
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