Immigration news

The UK government’s controversial ‘immigration exemption’ from the Data Protection Act 2018 faces a further legal challenge from human rights groups. The case is set to be heard in the Court of Appeal on 23 February 2021. An initial legal challenge was launched in the summer of 2019.

 

According to a report published in Computer Weekly, a lawsuit has been filed on the grounds that ‘everyone, regardless of their nationality or residence, should have their fundamental rights and freedoms protected as stated under GDPR.’

A damning letter written by two doctors and published in the South African Medical Journal has blamed the UK’s visa and immigration policy for the poaching of health workers from the world’s poorest countries. Current UK immigration rules recognise most healthcare roles as shortage occupations.

 

Many of Britain’s biggest music icons have accused the government of failing them amid an ongoing row over visa-free travel between the UK and the European Union. Britain and Brussels have been in a heated dispute over visa-free travel with each blaming the other over failings to agree a deal.

 

The UK government initially said that Brussels had rejected proposals, only for EU officials to rebuff the claims, arguing that Britain refused a deal in order to uphold its stance on freedom of movement.

46th US President, Joe Biden, set about reversing Donald Trump’s controversial US immigration policies just hours after being sworn into office. After a star-studded inauguration on the steps of the Capitol, including Lady Gaga singing the US national anthem, Biden moved fast to halt the border wall and travel ban while embracing DACA. 

 

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and UK Immigration, David Bolt, has published a report on the Home Office’s use of penalties and sanctions to ‘encourage’ compliance with immigration rules. According to a press release issued on the government’s official website, the report reviewed the efficiency and effectiveness of Home Office penalties and sanctions.

 

US Census Bureau director, Steve Dillingham, has resigned. Amid failed efforts by the Trump administration to exclude undocumented migrants from the latest US Census, and pressure to rush out data prior to the President leaving office, Dillingham quit following allegations that he backed Republican calls to hand data to Trump before he left the White House.