3 h. ago Labour in ‘complete denial’ over asylum crisis as Cooper unveils crackdown on refugee reunions

Another round of protests took place over the weekend against the housing of asylum seekers in The Bell Hotel in Epping

Events

32 h. ago How do you legally claim asylum in the UK? For most refugees, it's impossible

Asylum is a legal right, a human right, but without safe routes it is a hollow promise, writes Robina Qureshi. Ukrainians were welcomed; Palestinians — like so many others — are caught in a bureaucratic siege of red tape and bombardment.

Events

49 h. ago What to know Kilmar Abrego Garcia's asylum claim. Experts say it's a smart but risky legal move

Legal experts say Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s request for asylum in the United States is a smart but risky legal strategy

Events

4 d. ago The government must consider all options for a more forceful approach to migration

Editorial: The proposal to grant a temporary permission to work to asylum seekers from countries where the overwhelming majority of applications for refugee status are normally granted deserves a cautious welcome – not least because it would enable 200 asylum hotels to be closed within a year, and help get the beleaguered system back on track

Politics

7 d. ago ‘Debilitating consequences’ in Uganda after USAID cuts – photo essay

The hollowing out of USAID has far-reaching impacts in northern UgandaIn northern Uganda, the unfolding consequences of US funding cuts to international humanitarian aid are palpable. Thousands of families have been living in refugee camps along the border with South Sudan for almost a decade, and newcomers are reported every day as the never-ending conflict within the country intensifies.Uganda has long been a crossroads of migration, shaped by historical and contemporary population movements. Today, it hosts over 1.9 million refugees and asylum seekers – one of the largest refugee populations in the world. Persistent violence in South Sudan and the eruption of armed conflict in Sudan have displaced millions. As both countries spiral further into instability, Uganda remains one of the few safe havens in the region. Continue reading...

Culture

7 d. ago Sting is being sued for 'MILLIONS of pounds in lost royalties' by former bandmates in The Police

The singer, 73, was handed a High Court writ by the group's guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. The claim comes after years of legal disputes.

Events

8 d. ago SNP defends 'strong' rights making Glasgow magnet for homeless refugees and costing extra £40m

Glasgow City Council has received homeless applications from hundreds of refugees who sought asylum in English and Northern Irish cities.

Economics

9 d. ago Women working for refugee charities facing ‘disgusting’ sexual comments from far

Charities have warned staff not to wear lanyards and ID badges, and have had to provide workers with additional security

Events

9 d. ago Scots council warning ahead of planned protest at asylum hotel

Perth and Kinross Council have asked protestors attending an anti-asylum hotel demonstration to treat "those seeking refuge, the same way they would hope to be treated".

Events

9 d. ago ‘Asylum seekers feel hunted amid scenes of hate on UK streets’ as protests go on

Campaigners said some of the public’s valid concerns about hotels being used for asylum seekers are ‘being hijacked by a violent minority’.

Events

1 week ago I'm a legal refugee in Britain. So why am I always being treated like a criminal? | Ayman Alhussein

I’ve met wonderful people here who make me feel that I belong – but there are now many who see asylum seekers as an easy political targetHardly a day goes by without a new insult being hurled in the faces of asylum seekers and refugees. We’re scroungers, rapists, fighting-age men who shouldn’t have left our home countries. Sometimes we’re simply “illegals”, the most dehumanising term of all. When did it become a crime to run for your life?The people levelling these accusations are superb at making themselves heard. Mud sticks – and most of us are too scared to try to set the record straight. I don’t know how many of our accusers have sat down with us, human to human, and listened to our stories. Here’s mine.As told to Diane TaylorAyman Alhussein is a Syrian film-maker based in London Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Voices: So, where will we put asylum seekers now courts have backed the ‘not in my backyarders’?

The Epping verdict shows glaring issues with both planning consent and Nimbyism, writes Sean O’Grady. Whether economic migrants or refugees, anyone seeking asylum in the UK deserves respect and safety

Events

2 w. ago UK party leaders urged to end ‘pernicious currents’ of hatred fuelling anti

More than 200 refugee groups, charities and unions sign letter calling for action after weeks of protests outside asylum hotelsMore than 200 refugee organisations, charities and trade unions have signed an open letter calling on Britain’s political leaders to end “pernicious and insidious currents” of racism and hatred that underpin a slew of anti-migrant protests.The letter, coordinated by the campaign coalition Together With Refugees, has been signed by organisations including Amnesty International UK, City of Sanctuary UK, Care for Calais, Doctors of the World, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Freedom from Torture, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, the Public and Commercial Services Union, Refugee Action and Safe Passage. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The Guardian view on asylum myths: when truth loses, scapegoating takes over Britain’s migrant debate | Editorial

Labour’s cautious fixes for immigration and asylum policy face a toxic public mood shaped by fear, falsehoods and far-right provocationIn politics, numbers rarely speak for themselves. They must be framed and interpreted. They are often weaponised. In Britain’s increasingly toxic debate over asylum and migration, the question isn’t just how many asylum seekers arrive on small boats. It’s what those numbers are made to represent – and why polls suggest a large proportion of the public now believes things that are simply untrue.Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, has staked her political credibility on restoring a sense of grip over the asylum system: reducing the backlog by processing cases, accelerating returns of those with no legal claim to stay and launching an as yet small-scale “one in, one out” returns deal with France. In balancing operational realism with symbolic reassurance, Ms Cooper walks a knife-edge between policy and perception. Continue reading...

Events