"I have never welcomed the weakening of family ties by politics or pressure" - Nelson Mandela.
"He who travels for love finds a thousand miles no longer than one" - Japanese proverb.
"Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence." - Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
"When people's love is divided by law, it is the law that needs to change". -
David Cameron.

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Today's links

The Migration Weekly: Humanity on the move.

http://paper.li/bengidley/1334588436#

... looks like an interesting read. Via https://twitter.com/MigrantVoiceUK

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'How many Bulgarians and Romanians will come to the UK?'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/15/bulgarian-romanian-migration-uk-restrictions

Good piece by Dr. Scott Blinder of the Migration Observatory ( http://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk ). The Migration Observatory is one of our favourite resources for geographical research.

'Women, young people and non-Londoners are most affected by changed to family migration policy' : http://www.migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/press-releases/women-young-people-and-non-londoners-are-most-affected-changes-family-migration-polic

... is a key piece of evidence on the issues around the campaign by the Migration Obsevatory. This paper suggests around half of all Brits will now be unable to bring their non-EEA partner into the UK.

It should be admitted, though, that this research by Migration Observatory is around the 'blunt instrument' of the £18,600 income level ( more on this on our introduction page : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/introduction.html ).

At least one of our sources in academia suggests that, with additional restrictions, the proportion of Brits unable to bring their families into the UK may be far higher. Restrictions such as:
- lengthening the time to indefinite leave to remain from 2 to 5 years (and given that employers are likely to be hit with a big fine if any employees are found to overstay, it is unlikely that many will want this overhead; it is also likely that with the additional uncertainty this brings, many couples will feel unable to make their homes in the UK).
- increasing the language requirement from A1 to B1 level (for comparison, A1 is 'entry level' English; B1 is the same level that is needed to study at HND level - the British equivalent of an associate's degree - this is a huge jump and far in excess of the language level needed to integrate into British society).
- the additional income requirements for children (an income of £22,400 for the first child, with an additional £2400 for each child after that).


We are already hearing many reports of the additional stress put on relationships and families, of fathers who have in fact never held their children; it is inevitable that families will be broken up by these inhumane rules. The rules have only been in place for a few months, but are taking a great human toll.

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Kidney transplant case signals deep flaws in UK immigration policy and practice.

http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/esme-madill/kidney-transplant-case-signals-deep-flaws-in-uk-immigration-policy-and-practi

'Roseline Akhalu had good grounds for hoping that her treatment at the hands of the Home Office, described by Oscar-winning actor, Colin Firth, as smacking of “persecution”, was to end before the start of 2013. Late last year, in two successive rulings, judges found that the Home Office was wrong to try to deport the kidney-transplant patent to certain death in Nigeria. But on 4 January Akhalu learned that the Home Office would fight on to remove her from Britain...' 

The case of Roseline Akhalu, also covered in yesterday's update : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-trials-of-roseline-akhalu-httpwww.html

Via Roseline's Facebook campaign page : https://www.facebook.com/groups/315098168561449/permalink/433017250102873/

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Luqman Onikosi.

http://ncadc.org.uk/campaigns/luqman/index.html

'Luqman Onikosi, a community activist from Nigeria, came to the UK on a student visa to continue his education. During the second year of his course he was diagnosed with Chronic Hepatitis B liver condition. Since his diagnosis his condition has deteriorated rapidly and he needs regular monitoring...'

Luqman's Facebook campaign page : https://www.facebook.com/groups/452820554754025/

Via http://ncadc.org.uk/

This is disturbingly similar to Roseline Akhalu's case.

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The European Health Insurance Card.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx

EEA citizens (including Brits) and their partners are eligible to reside and work in any EEA country, which for some may provide a potential route to live with their non EEA families (and ultimately to return to the UK). This card is a useful piece of documentation which may help smooth the path.

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Update on Roma forced evictions in Czech Republic.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/01/15/prednadrazi-still-stands-czech-roma-community-resists-evictions/

Via https://twitter.com/nandosigona

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UK Immigration Barristers.

https://twitter.com/immigrationuk_

Via https://twitter.com/emmabmoussa

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Immigrants add billions to the Arkansas economy.

http://immigrationimpact.com/2013/01/15/immigrants-add-billions-to-the-arkansas-economy/

Via https://twitter.com/BritCits

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'New proposals on migration policy will introduce criminal statutes to Russian migration legislation. '

http://rbth.ru/society/2013/01/16/authorities_tighten_grip_on_migration_control_21927.html

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