Windrush: call for evidence

In relation to the below; BSN will hold a meeting for interested practitioners in the coming weeks/month. Details to follow.

If you are interested in attending, please email us by 14 September 2018 with your name and contact details (using the heading “Windrush: call for evidence”) at events@blacksolicitorsnetwork.org

Windrush: lessons learned review call for evidence

On 22 June 2018 The Home Secretary appointed Wendy Williams as Independent Adviser to a lessons learned review “to make sure crucial lessons were identified and learned as quickly as possible, to prevent something like this happening again”. A call for evidence was issued on 20 August 2018 and will run until 19 October 2018.

The review would like to hear from as many people as possible who can offer an insight into what happened. The Independent Advisor wishes to hear from parties able to offer perspectives into what happened and why including immigration advisors and lawyers who may represent those going through the UK immigration system or who are subject to immigration controls.

BSN intends to submit a written response to the review and, if considered appropriate, will meet with the Advisory group.

A large number of BME solicitors are Immigration practitioners. Most were already familiar with the increased intensity of the “hostile environment” over the last 10 years and the impact on those lawfully in the UK, those seeking to regularise their status or upgrade to citizenship and their families. This should also include EEA nationals and their non-EEA family members, the increased use of deprivation of citizenship, entry clearance and the increasingly prohibitive fees.

This is a one-off opportunity for a robust discussion on legislative, policy and operational decisions over the last 40 years and possibly lead to corrective measures. It is therefore vital to have as wide a range of evidence and views as possible.

For the terms of reference and methodology for the lessons learned review see the link below

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-lessons-learned-review

The questions are:

• What, in your view, were the main legislative, policy and operational decisions which led to members of the Windrush generation becoming entangled in measures designed for illegal immigrants?
• What other factors played a part?
• Why were these issues not identified sooner?
• What lessons can the Home Office learn to make sure it does things differently in future?
• Are corrective measures now in place? If so, please give an assessment of their initial impact.
• What (if any) further recommendations do you have for the future?