Immigration news

Despite reassurances from the Home Office, there are increasing concerns that undocumented immigrants will shun the COVID-19 vaccine amid UK immigration data sharing fears. Last month, Workpermit.com reported that the undocumented status of more than one million immigrants in the UK would not affect access to the COVID jab.

 

The US Department of State (DoS) has announced that US visa applicants, whose applications were refused under Trump’s Muslim travel ban, can reapply. The former President’s ban affected 13 mostly Muslim-majority nations. The ban was overturned by Biden on his first day in office on January 20, with the President describing it as ‘a stain on our national conscience.’

 

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICBI), David Bolt, has blasted UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, accusing her of accommodating asylum seekers in ‘filthy’, ‘impoverished’ and ‘run down’ conditions. Bolt’s scathing attack comes following an inspection of Penally camp and Napier Barracks in Pembrokeshire and Kent.  

The findings of Bolt’s investigation into the accommodation used to house asylum seekers has been described as ‘damning’ by MP Liz Saville Roberts.

In a recent federal court filing, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that it is ‘transitioning family detention centers to short-term facilities that will release families within 72 hours. The news comes after reports of unaccompanied children being detained at the US-Mexico border for more than 72 hours – longer than US law allows.

 

The Immigration Services Union (ISU) and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union have warned that UK visa holders are travelling to the country without legitimate reasons. It’s been reported that UK immigration staff have been powerless to refuse entry to visa holders giving bogus reasons to enter the country, despite tougher border rules. 

 

A number of new health roles will be added to the UK immigration Shortage Occupation List (SOL), the government has announced. Laboratory technicians, nursing assistants, pharmacists and senior care workers are among several jobs that will be added to the SOL, making it easier for foreign workers in these professions to obtain a Skilled Worker Visa.