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Immigration Solicitors

Report criticises lack of clarity on immigration policies post-Brexit (28 July 2016)

Date: 28/07/2016
Duncan Lewis, Immigration Solicitors, Report criticises lack of clarity on immigration policies post-Brexit

The Home Affairs Committee publishes its first quarterly report of 2016, scrutinising the work of the Home Office Immigration Directorates.

The committee says that post-Brexit attempts to limit non-EU migration – and the uncertainly over migration within Europe during the exit negotiations – could both lead to a surge in immigration to the UK.

The committee adds that the immigration directorates must be “prepared and resourced” to deal with the heavy extra demands that will be placed on them by the fallout from Brexit.

The committee also says EU citizens resident in the UK and Britons living and working in Europe must not be used as “bargaining chips” in the Brexit negotiations – and the government must move quickly to establish certainty over their status and the new rules on free movement if they change significantly.

The committee adds that EU citizens living and working in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU need certainty on where they stand in relation to the UK leaving the EU.

The report offers the government three possible cut off dates – and also says that the failure to collect penalties for people smuggling is unacceptable.

According to UK Border Force estimates, one-third of lorries arriving at the border do not have the advised standards of security, equating to approximately 750,000 vehicles every year.

In 2014-2015, truck drivers and companies were served with more than 3,300 civil penalties for people smuggling, whether intentional or not – amounting to nearly £6.5million. However, figures show that around £2.5m of the penalties remains unpaid – and the report adds that, if the Home Office continues to fail to recover fines, the deterrent will not work.

The committee says it intends to make collection of civil penalties one of its key performance measures for the department.

The report also finds that, despite the number of visa applications falling for consecutive quarters, the number of cases received by UKVI (family visitor visa applications from overseas) – but which have yet to even be entered in the databases – continues to rise.

The report calls this number “unacceptable” and says that processing is a simple administrative task, which should easily be completed.

The report concludes that the Home Office's failure to put data on computers is delaying the processing of cases – and “does not inspire confidence” in its ability to manage the caseload.

The report also states that the Home Office “continues to lack an effective and efficient system” for managing its immigration casework – and the number of outstanding asylum applications is at “an all-time high”.

Despite repeated warnings from the committee, the Home Office has done nothing to address this situation, says the reports – and the Home Office must set out what steps it is taking to tackle this immediately.

An unacceptably high number of asylum applications are also being dealt with “inappropriately” – resulting in people being returned to unsafe countries like Eritrea, or asylum applications being successfully appealed.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can advise on a wide range of immigration matters, including business immigration, visa applications and appeals, student visas, spouse visas and visa overstays.

Duncan Lewis is also able to advise on right to work in the UK, the Modern Slavery Bill, illegal entry to the UK, asylum in the UK and asylum appeals – as well as appeals against deportation from the UK under the Human Rights Act.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law, call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For urgent help with immigration matters, call the Duncan Lewis 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607, where an accredited immigration lawyer is available 24/7.


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