Urgent steps needed to stop children being denied right to British nationality
Urgent steps needed to stop children being denied right to British nationality
9 July 2019
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has published a report on the government’s proposed changes to the British Nationality Act 1981. The Committee raises concerns over children being denied nationality under the ‘good character’ test due to previous police cautions or minor offences. The Committee believes this application of the ‘good character’ test is inappropriate and prevents the rights of children from being adequately considered. In an article for LexisNexis, senior solicitor, Matthew Wills agrees, calling the impact of minor offences on children’s rights ‘clearly disproportionate’. He says: ‘The findings of the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ report are therefore welcome input on the disproportionate impact that the application of the good character requirement for children can have. They highlight that urgent change is required in order to address the clear deficiencies and the heavy handed application of these provisions.’ LexisNexis members can read the full article here.
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Matthew Wills
Senior Solicitor
Reception with Fulham Opera
Reception with Fulham Opera
On Tuesday 9 July 2019, Laura Devine Solicitors held a reception with Fulham Opera. The evening included a mesmerising preview of their upcoming performance of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, as well as a number of operatic favourites. Thanks to the generosity of those who attended, we raised over £400 for the charity.
Latest Insights
Immigration Services
Zeena Luchowa comments on new Home Office initiative seeking personal data
Zeena Luchowa comments on new Home Office initiative seeking personal data
7 July 2019
Senior Solicitor Zeena Luchowa comments on the Home Office’s new initiative that urges charities to hand over personal data of non-UK homeless people. The plan is similar to a previous Home Office initiative seeking to root-out non-UK rough sleepers, which was declared illegal by the High Court 18 months ago.
Zeena goes into detail about this ‘worrying development’, and discusses the possible consequences facing the vulnerable homeless migrants who may fall victim to the new programme.
Read the full article from iNews here.
Insidious ‘build the wall’ chants create psychological barrier for undocumented women in US
Insidious ‘build the wall’ chants create psychological barrier for undocumented women in US
1 July 2019
The US is often regarded as the land of opportunity, freedom, and protection. However, with recent changes in enforcement, many women and children without immigration status in the US who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse there believe suffering in silence or running away are the only options available to them. Associate attorney, Kushal Patel’s article in Open Access Government looks at how Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have stepped up enforcement actions arresting undocumented immigrants for minor violations, resulting in fear amongst immigration communities that reporting a crime could result in deportation.
Read more here.
An evening of poetry with Mona Arshi
An evening of poetry with Mona Arshi
On Thursday 27 June 2019, Laura Devine Solicitors held a charity book event with poet Mona Arshi who read from her most recent book ‘Dear Big Gods’. Thanks to the generosity of those who attended, we raised over £250 for Mona’s chosen charity Brent Multi faith forum which aims to develop shared objectives for discussion to establish key issues for Brent’s faith communities and produce a plan of action to make strategic interventions.
Latest Insights
Immigration Services
How past drug use can stop you from getting into the US
How past drug use can stop you from getting into the US
26 June 2019
Senior Attorney Karnig Dukmajian discusses the impact drug use may have on an individual’s ability to travel to the US, including the authority of border officers to search mobile phones, in an interview with Vice magazine.
Read more here.
Karnig Dukmajian
Senior Attorney
Tier 2 salary thresholds: Migration Advisory Committee review under way
Tier 2 salary thresholds: Migration Advisory Committee review under way
25 June 2019
The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid yesterday commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the current minimum salary threshold of £30,000 for skilled migrants in the UK. The commission comes after the Government’s publication of the Immigration White Paper in December 2018, in which it accepted most of the MAC’s recommendations in its ‘EEA migration in the UK’ report, published in September 2018 which formed the basis of the new immigration system set to take effect from 2021.
The Government has asked the MAC to advise on the following specific areas:
- whether there should be a single minimum salary threshold, potentially with some flexibility to set a lower rate (without the additional requirement to meet market rates for specific occupations);
- whether the current arrangement of a combination of a minimum salary threshold and a ‘going rate’ for specific occupations should remain;
- whether the Government should adopt an approach which focuses only on the market rate for a particular role,
- whether regional variations to the salary threshold should be introduced to account for regional disparity in wages; and/or
- whether specific exemptions should apply for example based on whether:
- role is on the shortage occupation list;
- migrant is recruited for a role in a sector that provides high public value to society and the economy but which might not necessarily pay as high wages;
- migrant is a new entrant to a specific occupation;
- to extend the scope for non-cash remuneration to count towards salary thresholds, including equity shares and benefits in kind such as accommodation and transport; and
- whether part-time workers should benefit from pro-rated salary threshold.
The commission is now under way with a final report expected in January 2020.
How we can assist
Laura Devine Solicitors will be taking part in this consultation and helping many of our clients make their views known. We will circulate further details of our consultation initiatives in due course.
Refugee Week 2019
Refugee Week 2019
We were delighted to support the Migration Museum’s Lates event during Refugee Week on Thursday 20 June. Attendees enjoyed an informal evening of storytelling, dance performances and delicious food.
Latest Insights
Immigration Services
Karnig Dukmajian discusses with the Gazette the US immigration rules following an admission of prior drug use
Karnig Dukmajian discusses with the Gazette the US immigration rules following an admission of prior drug use
19 June 2019
Recent developments in UK politics have put a spotlight on US immigration law, specifically those provisions governing a foreign national’s ability to travel to the US following an admission of prior drug use, and whether the rules are different if the individual is a government official. Senior attorney Karnig Dukmajian’s article in the Law Society Gazette discusses this topic further, read more here.
Sophie Barrett-Brown and Miglena Ilieva discuss the demise of the Conservative immigration target
Sophie Barrett-Brown and Miglena Ilieva discuss the demise of the Conservative immigration target
18 June 2019
Senior Partner Sophie Barrett-Brown and Senior Solicitor Miglena Ilieva outline how attitudes towards immigration have recently shifted in Britain. In the wake of Theresa May’s unsuccessful attempt to reduce net migration through her notorious ‘hostile environment’ policy, Sophie and Miglena outline why this policy failed, what impact this has had on migration to the UK, and how changing attitudes in the UK may impact the incoming Prime Minister.
Read the full article here.