Free Movement

Dec 11, 2023 | freemovement.org.uk | Dominic Chambers

The Home Secretary has conceded the claims of two former immigration detainees relating to a power outage at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre (IRC), a detention centre next to Heathrow airport. The Home Secretary not only paid both claimants substantial amounts in damages for unlawfully detaining them, but also declared that he had in both cases breached their rights under the Equality Act 2010.

Oct 23, 2023 | freemovement.org.uk | Ben Nelson

Diego Garcia did not have any sort of asylum system in place when it received its first asylum seekers in 2021. Following litigation, the British Indian Ocean Territory has for the first time put in place processes for protection claims to be lodged and decided there. What happens to people in the event of a successful claim remains unclear. Diego Garcia is the largest island of an archipelago which together comprise the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Aug 23, 2023 | freemovement.org.uk | Katherine Soroya

Following the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan earlier this year the UK government evacuated thousands of people. This included a number of Sudanese nationals, some of whom were single parents accompanying their British children. What their current entitlements and next steps are is unclear.  There is no published information on the numbers of Sudanese evacuated, but we know of counties including Oxfordshire and West Midlands where families have been placed.

Jun 4, 2023 | freemovement.org.uk | Nicholas Reed Langen

Jun 2, 2023 | freemovement.org.uk | Katherine Soroya

On 22nd May 2023 the Upper Tribunal published a new country guidance on case on Democratic Republic of Congo, PO (DRC – Post 2018 elections) (CG) [2023] UKUT 00117. PO considers the risk of persecution for political opponents following the election of Felix Tshisekedi in 2019, significantly narrowing the scope for those claiming asylum based on their fear of political persecution.