31 October 2018

Matters involving UK immigration affect individuals from all walks of life – from senior level executives to those escaping persecution and violence in their country of birth. Whilst the tide seems to be changing on how immigration is reported in the UK media, we have experienced years of negativity and vitriol towards vulnerable members of society. Combatting this and cuts to legal aid, are just a few of the reasons why the team at Laura Devine Solicitors is so determined to use their knowledge and expertise to assist those who do not have access to justice.

Whilst pro bono work is very much part of our everyday work at LDS, Justice Week provides the opportunity to look back over the last 12 months and consider the cases we have been involved with. Some of the highlights include:

• Liaising with the Home Office to process a UK visit visa for Bana Alabed, a young Syrian girl who became globally known for her tweets during the 2016 siege of Aleppo and her call for peace in Syria. Her tweets became viral and having moved safely with her family to Turkey, Bana proceeded to release her first book, Dear World which is a story of a little girl trapped in a war who inspired the world with a simple message: ‘I need peace’. Bana was invited to attend the 8th annual Asian Awards ceremony in London where she was awarded the prestigious ‘Rising Star’ award. LDS were delighted to work with Bana, her family and The Blair Partnership to enable Bana to travel to the UK to collect her award.
• Working with an amateur boxing champion in England who has fallen victim of the Home Office’s Operation Nexus, having been brought to the UK at a young age and, whilst in care was charged with minor convictions. The individual is not recognised as a national of any country despite the Home Office’s attempts to remove him from the UK. LDS is working closely with renowned Chambers to review the individual’s eligibility for a statelessness claim and/or application on the basis of his private and family life in the UK.
• Assisting a woman with a British husband and British children, who was unable to regularise her immigration status due to her husband falling ill whilst overseas and having to remain there due to his condition. A refused application for leave to remain in the UK as a result of the family’s situation and having a husband unresponsive in a hospital overseas left this mother unable to work in the UK to support her two British children. This ultimately led to the woman becoming destitute, having to rely on the generous support of family and friends in order to care for them. Without permission to be in the UK, this individual was also unable to visit her husband whilst in hospital due to fears she would not be able to return to her sons.

The next 12 months is set to be another busy year and we are delighted to be working closely with two fantastic UK charities – Pan Intercultural Arts and Street Child United.

Pro Bono visit visas for the Street Child Cricket World Cup
Ahead of the international cricket World Cup in May 2019, Street Child United is hosting the first Street Child Cricket World Cup in the UK. LDS is excited to be assisting with the UK visit visas for all participants who are street-connected young people. Teams are heading to the UK from traditional cricketing nations and… not so traditional cricketing countries to participate in a cricket tournament whilst having the opportunity to discuss the rights of street children. No doubt the event will be a success and we are proud to be able to offer assistance to help bring young people to the UK and raise awareness of the life and rights of street-connected children all over the world. Our work has already started, with our Head of Appeals and Human Rights heading to the Summit in London last weekend to speak with Team Leaders from the participating countries about the UK visa process.