Legal News

The United Nations (UN) has warned David Cameron that proposals in the UK’s new Immigration Bill currently going through Parliament could lead to harmful racial profiling of refugees and asylum seekers in Britain.

The Prime Minister’s reforms to the benefits system for migrant should be in place by 1 January, when the border restrictions on Bulgarian and Romania are lifted, meaning Bulgarian and Romanian nationals will be able to move freely across the EU and settle in any EU member state.

In the UK, rebel Conservative MPs tabled an Amendment to the Immigration Bill which would have left the restrictions in place for a further five years until 2018. The Bill will not now return to the House of Commons in its report stage until the New Year, however, by which time the border restrictions will have been lifted.

Before Parliament broke up for the Christmas holidays, David Cameron introduced the benefit changes which include new migrants having to wait for three months until they can claim out-of-work benefits like Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Housing Benefit.

The Immigration Bill will also place responsibility landlords to check the immigration status of rental tenants before leasing a home to them.

Banks would also have a legal duty to make sure those opening up accounts were legally entitled to live in the UK.

Currently employers who give jobs to workers who are not allowed to work in the UK can face up to £10,000 in fines per illegal worker – and employers have a legal duty to check a potential new employee’s immigration status before offering them work.

The UN Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres says that these changes in the Immigration Bill could end up stigmatising asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Mr Guterres has written to MPs expressing his concerns about the UK Immigration Bill creating a climate of racial profiling:

“The provisions of the Bill appear likely to result in asylum seekers and refugees being stigmatised in their being denied access to housing or bank accounts,” said Mr Guterrres.

Some MPs have responded to Mr Guterres’ letter saying he is interfering in UK immigration policy.

Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell – who held the post until 2012 – said the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) needed to show the British taxpayer it was giving value for money for UK aid received to refugees, which totalled more than £200 million between 2009 and 2013.

Mr Mitchell added that the UNHCR should also concentrate on key issues, such as directing the funds the UK donates to help millions of Syrians fleeing war, instead of criticising UK immigration policy.

Mr Mitchell added that it was not the commission’s “mandate” to interfere in UK immigration policy.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of immigration solicitors and can advise those seeking to live and work in the UK on immigration law in Britain, as well as refugees seeking asylum in the UK.

Duncan Lewis is also one of the UK’s leading firms of Legal Aid solicitors and can handle asylum appeals as well as detention and illegal entry to the UK.

For expert legal advice on all immigration and asylum matters contact Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.