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Illegal Migration Bill Implementation

The Home Office is implementing the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and related provisions from the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 to deter small boat crossings and manage asylum claims, including processing previously inadmissible cases following the cancelled Rwanda scheme. The policy has generated unintended consequences including a significant increase in people staying permanently in the UK and asylum claims from visa holders, prompting budget-driven reforms and scrutiny of detention practices. Implementation is active with ongoing Treasury oversight and accountability assessments.

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Family: Scrutiny and evidence

2025

6 events
4 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We asked the Home Office what actions it was taking to address some of the unintended consequences of the higher than expected use of the route, such as an 80% increase in people staying permanently in the United Kingdom in 2024 compared to 2021 and the number of people claiming asylum after entering the United Kingdom on a Skilled Worker visa, rising from 53 in 2022 to 5,300 in 2024. The Home Office told us it had taken steps to address the number of people entering on a visa and claiming as...

We asked the Home Office what actions it was taking to address some of the unintended consequences of the higher than expected use of the route, such as an 80% increase in people staying permanently in the United Kingdom in …

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5 Feb 2025 | Committee report linked

We are concerned that the Home Office’s culture allowed it to override too easily the controls and processes in place to protect taxpayers’ money. The Home Office appears to have been operating in crisis mode for several years and now asserts that it is moving back to business- as-usual. It argues that its response to an “emergency” meant it had to make quick decisions, which led it to unreasonably abandon controls and weaken approval processes in acquiring the Northeye site and other large a...

We are concerned that the Home Office’s culture allowed it to override too easily the controls and processes in place to protect taxpayers’ money. The Home Office appears to have been operating in crisis mode for several years and now …

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5 Feb 2025 | Committee report linked

The Small Ministerial Group, established around November 2022, implemented concessions to the process of acquiring sites, including dispensing with the requirement for a full business case before approving acquisitions. The Home Office began drafting an outline business case for the acquisition of the Northeye site, dated 1 March 2023, but never completed it.42 When asked why a full business case was not developed for the Northeye site, despite is being a condition for HM Treasury approval, t...

The Small Ministerial Group, established around November 2022, implemented concessions to the process of acquiring sites, including dispensing with the requirement for a full business case before approving acquisitions. The Home Office began drafting an outline business case for the …

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5 Feb 2025 | Committee report linked

The Autumn Budget 2024 set a target for the Home Office to deliver significant savings by 2026.93 Moreover, following the cancelled Rwanda scheme, the current government has promised to resume processing asylum decisions for those previously considered as inadmissible. Under the former government, the Home Office was not processing cases for people who had arrived after 7 March 2023 (as these cases were subject to provisions under the Illegal Migration Act 2023).94 We asked the Home Office ab...

The Autumn Budget 2024 set a target for the Home Office to deliver significant savings by 2026.93 Moreover, following the cancelled Rwanda scheme, the current government has promised to resume processing asylum decisions for those previously considered as inadmissible. Under …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
5 Feb 2025 | Committee report linked

The Home Office explained it plans to reduce costs quickly, in part, by focusing on upstream measures, such as controlling irregular arrivals through the new Border Security Command. In our evidence session, the Home Office described the Border Security Command as the “start of a very long haul,” emphasising that it is part of ongoing efforts to work upstream and collaborate with other countries. It explained that it had already invested £75 million to support new capabilities, such as additi...

The Home Office explained it plans to reduce costs quickly, in part, by focusing on upstream measures, such as controlling irregular arrivals through the new Border Security Command. In our evidence session, the Home Office described the Border Security Command …

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2024

23 events
18 Dec 2024 | Written question Home Office linked

Immigration: Detainees

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 25 November (HL2389), in which he says that the Home Office review into immigration detention will not assess all areas of the Brook House …

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18 Dec 2024 | Written question Home Office linked

Migrants: Detainees

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on implementing the recommendations of the Brook House Inquiry, published on 19 September 2023; and whether any of those recommendations have been completed. Answer: 30 …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

We are disappointed that, despite the Committee previously raising concerns, the Permanent Secretary is still not providing the necessary transparency to enable Parliament to hold the Home Office to account on its asylum and immigration plans. We have previously raised concerns about the Accounting Officer’s transparency to Parliament. Despite this, the Home Office published the summary Accounting Officer Assessment for the Sovereign Borders Programme nine months late, and 15 months after it ...

We are disappointed that, despite the Committee previously raising concerns, the Permanent Secretary is still not providing the necessary transparency to enable Parliament to hold the Home Office to account on its asylum and immigration plans. We have previously raised …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

We asked the Home Office how many people it planned to remove under the Illegal Migration Act. At our evidence session, the Home Office told us that it estimated at 28 December 2023 there were 33,000 people that the Home Secretary would have a duty to remove under the Act.8 We asked whether the Home Office had a duty to remove the additional 6,700 people who had crossed the Channel to date in 2024. The Home Office told us that it did not have an exact number of how many people were considered...

We asked the Home Office how many people it planned to remove under the Illegal Migration Act. At our evidence session, the Home Office told us that it estimated at 28 December 2023 there were 33,000 people that the Home …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The Home Office acknowledged that there were many constraints that it would have to take into account when running the programme of relocations, and told us that it had developed plans and contingency options. It told us that its operational plans depended on the “flow” of relocations, but did not think it appropriate to provide detail on its operational planning.13 We asked whether the Home Office knew the location of those it wanted to remove, given that it did not have a good track record ...

The Home Office acknowledged that there were many constraints that it would have to take into account when running the programme of relocations, and told us that it had developed plans and contingency options. It told us that its operational …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The Home Office has established four large accommodation sites – the Bibby Stockholm vessel in Dorset, former RAF bases in Wethersfield, Essex and Scampton, Lincolnshire, and former student accommodation in Huddersfield. The Home Office estimated that, by the end of March 2024, it had spent £230 million on the sites, and it expected the Large Sites Programme to cost £1.2 billion over the life of the sites. Two of the sites (Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm vessel) were in use at the time ...

The Home Office has established four large accommodation sites – the Bibby Stockholm vessel in Dorset, former RAF bases in Wethersfield, Essex and Scampton, Lincolnshire, and former student accommodation in Huddersfield. The Home Office estimated that, by the end of …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

We were concerned by the Home Office’s assessment of the set-up costs to convert the two former RAF bases to accommodation. At the outset, the Home Office estimated that such costs would be £5 million for each site, but the costs increased to £49 million at Wethersfield and £27 million so far at Scampton. We asked the Home Office how it got its estimates so wrong. It told us it was dealing with a “national emergency” and that it considered that it “should be doing what our colleagues during C...

We were concerned by the Home Office’s assessment of the set-up costs to convert the two former RAF bases to accommodation. At the outset, the Home Office estimated that such costs would be £5 million for each site, but the …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The Illegal Migration Bill was first introduced to Parliament in March 2023, and since this time the Home Office has not been processing claims for the majority of people arriving in small boats and through other irregular means. We remarked that at the time of our evidence session, individuals could not apply for asylum and the Home Secretary was not yet obliged to remove them, so they were effectively left in limbo. The Home Office said it was correct and that at the time they were pending ...

The Illegal Migration Bill was first introduced to Parliament in March 2023, and since this time the Home Office has not been processing claims for the majority of people arriving in small boats and through other irregular means. We remarked …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

Many of those subject to removal will be living in Home Office accommodation, such as hotels or large sites, despite being unable to claim asylum in the UK. The Home Office spent an estimated £4.7 billion on asylum support (which covers accommodation, and financial subsistence for those who would otherwise be destitute) in the 2023–24 financial year, and the Government spent £4.3 billion of official development assistance budget (one-quarter of all aid spending) on supporting refugees and asy...

Many of those subject to removal will be living in Home Office accommodation, such as hotels or large sites, despite being unable to claim asylum in the UK. The Home Office spent an estimated £4.7 billion on asylum support (which …

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29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

Assessing the deterrent effect, and thus value for money, of the scheme will be complex. The Home Office recognised that it will be difficult to isolate the impact of the Rwanda partnership from other government policies intended to stop small boat crossings and reduce illegal migration, such as the agreement with Albania to return failed asylum seekers, work with French authorities to prevent boat crossings and wider work with countries from where asylum seekers originate.44 We asked the Hom...

Assessing the deterrent effect, and thus value for money, of the scheme will be complex. The Home Office recognised that it will be difficult to isolate the impact of the Rwanda partnership from other government policies intended to stop small …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The Accounting Officer told us that he received regular advice on a range of Home Office issues including each part, and the totality, of the programme of activity to stop the crossings of small boats and deter illegal migration. The Accounting Officer accepted his obligation to provide AO assessment summaries when there was a significant change to a programme or policy.52 HM Treasury wrote to use after the evidence session to clarify that a “significant change” included circumstances where a...

The Accounting Officer told us that he received regular advice on a range of Home Office issues including each part, and the totality, of the programme of activity to stop the crossings of small boats and deter illegal migration. The …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
28 Mar 2024 | Committee report linked

We note the concerns raised in the evidence about the extent of the Home Office’s consultation with the Government of Guernsey on the Illegal Migration Bill. The Ministry of Justice’s Crown Dependency team should initiate a dialogue as soon as possible between the relevant officials in the Home Office and the Government of Guernsey so that concerns can be discussed and addressed for the future. The Ministry of Justice should review its guidance on the extension of UK legislation to the Crown ...

We note the concerns raised in the evidence about the extent of the Home Office’s consultation with the Government of Guernsey on the Illegal Migration Bill. The Ministry of Justice’s Crown Dependency team should initiate a dialogue as soon as …

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2023

22 events
8 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The Modern Slavery Unit’s outputs, including belated information about its new model for stakeholder engagement (Modern Slavery Stakeholder Forums) is opaque to say the least. We deeply regret that a unit comprising 56 staff has prioritised work on the Illegal Migration Act to the detriment of preventing human trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting offenders responsible for human trafficking.

The Modern Slavery Unit’s outputs, including belated information about its new model for stakeholder engagement (Modern Slavery Stakeholder Forums) is opaque to say the least. We deeply regret that a unit comprising 56 staff has prioritised work on the Illegal …

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8 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government should pause any requirement to provide third party evidence at the Reasonable Grounds stage until such an independent review has been concluded and has determined that the new requirements are not unduly burdensome.

The Government should pause any requirement to provide third party evidence at the Reasonable Grounds stage until such an independent review has been concluded and has determined that the new requirements are not unduly burdensome. Type: recommendation | Number: 74 …

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8 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

There has been a troubling and unwelcome rise in the number of adults choosing not to enter the National Referral Mechanism, who may be at risk of further exploitation. It is unclear why the Home Office does not collect, analyse, and publish data on why individuals are refusing to consent to enter the NRM. We recommend that the Home Office corrects this deficiency immediately.

There has been a troubling and unwelcome rise in the number of adults choosing not to enter the National Referral Mechanism, who may be at risk of further exploitation. It is unclear why the Home Office does not collect, analyse, …

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8 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government’s evidence for individuals ‘abusing the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) system to gain asylum’ is not compelling. There may be a few examples of individuals attempting to take advantage of the NRM, but the Home Office has failed to produce sufficient evidence to support its assertions of widespread abuse. A small number of cases cannot be allowed to jeopardise effective use of the NRM, which provides invaluable support to victims of human trafficking, nor should the Governmen...

The Government’s evidence for individuals ‘abusing the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) system to gain asylum’ is not compelling. There may be a few examples of individuals attempting to take advantage of the NRM, but the Home Office has failed to …

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8 Dec 2023 | Committee report linked

The Home office must publish an interim evaluation of the devolved decision-making pilot for children by January 2024, and thereafter a full evaluation of all phases of the Pilot by June 2024. If the outcomes are successful, all decision making for children must be transferred to local authorities within one year of the publication of the evaluation report.

The Home office must publish an interim evaluation of the devolved decision-making pilot for children by January 2024, and thereafter a full evaluation of all phases of the Pilot by June 2024. If the outcomes are successful, all decision making …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

The Home Office failed to convince us that it understands the full implications of its programme on the wider asylum system, affecting the ability of others to plan. The current business case for the asylum and protection transformation programme is incomplete and unrealistic. The Home Office acknowledged that it has not looked broadly enough at the impact of rapidly clearing its asylum backlog, and that its business case ignores the challenges and costs that bodies such as Immigration Enforc...

The Home Office failed to convince us that it understands the full implications of its programme on the wider asylum system, affecting the ability of others to plan. The current business case for the asylum and protection transformation programme is …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

In the year to April 2023, 25% of caseworkers left their role.15 The Home Office told us the proportion of caseworkers leaving had reduced since the C&AG’s report (published in June 2023) and that some caseworkers leave the role for internal promotions, but it acknowledged that this level of turnover is “nowhere near where it needs to be, which is at 7% or 8%”.16 The Home Office also said that it recruits caseworkers through a rolling campaign, so that it will be able to keep the number of ca...

In the year to April 2023, 25% of caseworkers left their role.15 The Home Office told us the proportion of caseworkers leaving had reduced since the C&AG’s report (published in June 2023) and that some caseworkers leave the role for …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

The Home Office told us that it has increased the number of decisions caseworkers make by focussing on “bottlenecks” in the system. It said that asylum claims requiring decisions had not been reaching caseworkers quickly enough and, when they did, the claims were not immediately ready to make decisions on. The Home Office said that removing these bottlenecks had been a “big part” of speeding up decisions.18

The Home Office told us that it has increased the number of decisions caseworkers make by focussing on “bottlenecks” in the system. It said that asylum claims requiring decisions had not been reaching caseworkers quickly enough and, when they did, …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

The Home Office also told us about its streamlined asylum process, which is used for people applying for asylum who are from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Sudan.19 It said that this process includes people seeking asylum completing a questionnaire before their interview, meaning interviews can be shorter and caseworkers can make more decisions.20 The Home Office’s guidance on the streamlined asylum process says that, where possible, a decision will be taken without an intervie...

The Home Office also told us about its streamlined asylum process, which is used for people applying for asylum who are from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Sudan.19 It said that this process includes people seeking asylum completing a …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

As a result of the changes it has made, the Home Office has increased the number of asylum decisions it makes from an average of 1,310 each week in April 2023, to 1,700 in the first week of July 2023.30 To meet its commitment to clear the legacy backlog by the end of 2023, it will need to increase this and make an average of nearly 2,600 decisions every week from the start of July 2023 to the end of the year.31 We have made this calculation using the number of legacy cases remaining at 30 Jun...

As a result of the changes it has made, the Home Office has increased the number of asylum decisions it makes from an average of 1,310 each week in April 2023, to 1,700 in the first week of July 2023.30 …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

While the Programme aims to increase the number of asylum decisions that the Home Office makes, the Home Office acknowledged that it has not looked broadly enough at benefits and costs beyond the asylum and protection team of increasing decisions.33 For example, its business case does not account for economic benefits, such as someone receiving a decision and being able to move into work.34 The Home Office acknowledged that there will be an impact on HM Courts & Tribunals Service, who will ne...

While the Programme aims to increase the number of asylum decisions that the Home Office makes, the Home Office acknowledged that it has not looked broadly enough at benefits and costs beyond the asylum and protection team of increasing decisions.33 …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

The Home Office told us it would include a wider range of costs and benefits in the next iteration of its business case, which it plans to produce early in 2024.36 It had previously told the NAO it would update the business case in Summer 2023.37 We note that the updated business case is now not expected until after the date by which the Home Office expects to have cleared the legacy backlog. When we questioned the Home Office about whether the Programme business case is realistic, the Home O...

The Home Office told us it would include a wider range of costs and benefits in the next iteration of its business case, which it plans to produce early in 2024.36 It had previously told the NAO it would update …

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27 Oct 2023 | Committee report linked

The Home Office said it would come back to us with further details on its processes for deciding who will share rooms but its letter of 18 August added little detail about how the Home Office would ensure people are kept safe, and it largely repeated what was said in our evidence session.71 The letter did add that room sharing was for people of the same sex, and that the Home Office encourages room sharing with family and friends.72 64 Q 87 65 Q 145 66 Correspondence from the Home Office to P...

The Home Office said it would come back to us with further details on its processes for deciding who will share rooms but its letter of 18 August added little detail about how the Home Office would ensure people are …

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27 Jun 2023 | Committee report linked

In order to fulfil the Prime Minister’s pledge to clear a substantial part of the backlog of asylum cases this year, the Home Office will need many more highly-trained decision-makers making initial decisions faster. Data on decision-making rates and appeal outcomes show initial decisions are far too slow and too often wrong. Evidence also shows delays in the Home Office engaging with the Tribunals and actioning its decisions.

In order to fulfil the Prime Minister’s pledge to clear a substantial part of the backlog of asylum cases this year, the Home Office will need many more highly-trained decision-makers making initial decisions faster. Data on decision-making rates and appeal …

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27 Jun 2023 | Committee report linked

The prolonged detention with no certainty of release of asylum-seeking people who pose no threat to the public and for whom there is little prospect of removal from the UK is potentially harmful, impractical and costly. We are deeply concerned that current and planned reforms in the Nationality and Borders Act and Illegal Migration Bill risk turning back the clock on policies intended to ensure detention 76 Equality and the UK asylum process is used only as a last resort, and to reduce the ri...

The prolonged detention with no certainty of release of asylum-seeking people who pose no threat to the public and for whom there is little prospect of removal from the UK is potentially harmful, impractical and costly. We are deeply concerned …

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12 Jun 2023 | Committee report linked

The Prime Minister told the House of Commons Liaison Committee in March that around 4,000 cases had been cleared in the three months since he pledged to clear the backlog outstanding at 28 June last year. We invite the Home Office to set out how it plans rapidly to increase that rate of decision-making if it is not to break the Prime Minister’s promise to clear 92,601 cases by the end of 2023.

The Prime Minister told the House of Commons Liaison Committee in March that around 4,000 cases had been cleared in the three months since he pledged to clear the backlog outstanding at 28 June last year. We invite the Home …

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2022

10 events
18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

Migration, including irregular migration across the English Channel, is an issue on which no magical single solution is possible and on which detailed, evidence- driven, properly costed and fully tested policy initiatives are by far most likely to achieve sustainable incremental change. (Paragraph 2) Management of the asylum system

Migration, including irregular migration across the English Channel, is an issue on which no magical single solution is possible and on which detailed, evidence- driven, properly costed and fully tested policy initiatives are by far most likely to achieve sustainable …

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18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

The visibility of small boat crossings of the English Channel should not prevent our remembering that migrants also use ferries, planes, trains and vehicles to enter the United Kingdom irregularly and by clandestine means. The rapid increase in the proportion of people making the dangerous journey across the Channel may suggest, however, that security improvements made by the French and UK authorities in northern France is displacing traffic from those routes into small boats. We agree with t...

The visibility of small boat crossings of the English Channel should not prevent our remembering that migrants also use ferries, planes, trains and vehicles to enter the United Kingdom irregularly and by clandestine means. The rapid increase in the proportion …

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18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

The Home Office should urgently review lessons learned from the response to migrant crossings since January 2018. The review should focus on intelligence collection, risk assessment and how information is reported to Ministers and used to inform policy. The Home Office should report in its formal response to this Report on how this review will be taken forward, its staffing and objectives. The review’s outcomes should be reported to us within 10 weeks of publication of its formal response to ...

The Home Office should urgently review lessons learned from the response to migrant crossings since January 2018. The review should focus on intelligence collection, risk assessment and how information is reported to Ministers and used to inform policy. The Home …

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18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

Further clarity is required on precisely what difference the assumption of operational responsibility for migrant crossings in the Channel by the Royal Navy (rather than Channel crossings, migration and asylum 45 Border Force) is intended to achieve and what measure of success will be applied when these arrangements are reviewed in January. We invite the Home Office to provide that clarity in its response to this Report.

Further clarity is required on precisely what difference the assumption of operational responsibility for migrant crossings in the Channel by the Royal Navy (rather than Channel crossings, migration and asylum 45 Border Force) is intended to achieve and what measure …

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18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

There is a worrying trend in Home Office policy announcements being made before detailed policy has been worked through, tested and even agreed between Government Departments, as exemplified by early announcement both of military control of channel operations and the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda. We recommend that the Home Office seek to delay announcing new policy initiatives on channel crossings until sufficient detailed planning has been done to substantiate t...

There is a worrying trend in Home Office policy announcements being made before detailed policy has been worked through, tested and even agreed between Government Departments, as exemplified by early announcement both of military control of channel operations and the …

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18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

The Government must ensure that there is enough physical and staff capacity to conduct necessary searches, fingerprinting, identity and initial vulnerability checks consistently on all migrants arriving at Dover before they are transferred to Yarl’s Wood or other Home Office facilities.

The Government must ensure that there is enough physical and staff capacity to conduct necessary searches, fingerprinting, identity and initial vulnerability checks consistently on all migrants arriving at Dover before they are transferred to Yarl’s Wood or other Home Office …

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18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

Fulfilment of this recommendation is likely to require investment in internet connectivity and/or other equipment and resources. Such investment would deliver greater effectiveness in managing safeguarding obligations and support improved communications between staff processing migrants in different units and reduce casework delays later in the decision-making process.

Fulfilment of this recommendation is likely to require investment in internet connectivity and/or other equipment and resources. Such investment would deliver greater effectiveness in managing safeguarding obligations and support improved communications between staff processing migrants in different

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18 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

The Government must also explain what measures have been put in place to improve communication between Border Force and short-term holding facilities about their capacity to receive migrants. The Home Office should agree minimum notice periods for different numbers of arrivals at holding centres. (Paragraph 141) 48 Channel crossings, migration and asylum

The Government must also explain what measures have been put in place to improve communication between Border Force and short-term holding facilities about their capacity to receive migrants. The Home Office should agree minimum notice periods for different numbers of …

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11 Mar 2022 | Committee report linked

The manner in which this decision was announced leaves a lot to be desired. The confusion around the ways and means which will be used to achieve the strategic objective (let alone the strategic objective itself) is unhelpful and does not lend itself to effective scrutiny, particularly when Ministers provide the bare minimum of information. This is compounded by the fact that, more than six weeks after the decision had been announced and we had requested more information from them, we have no...

The manner in which this decision was announced leaves a lot to be desired. The confusion around the ways and means which will be used to achieve the strategic objective (let alone the strategic objective itself) is unhelpful and does …

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11 Mar 2022 | Committee report linked

In short, the Government has not attempted to persuade us that Operation Isotrope is anything but an ill-defined policy, prematurely announced. The best case scenario for the Royal Navy is that it will leave with its reputation unharmed: there is no prospect of leaving with its reputation enhanced. (Paragraph 82) 32 Operation Isotrope: the use of the military to counter migrant crossings

In short, the Government has not attempted to persuade us that Operation Isotrope is anything but an ill-defined policy, prematurely announced. The best case scenario for the Royal Navy is that it will leave with its reputation unharmed: there is …

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2021

1 event
27 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

The Department recognised that its processing of claims was not always quick and that it had not yet done enough to reduce the time it takes to process them. It claimed that it now has ‘the right plans in place’ to speed them up.14 It repeatedly underlined its desire to make any further changes necessary to improve performance of the scheme, whatever the cost.15 It stated these changes could include increasing the workforce and simplifying its existing processes.16 It did not confirm exactly ...

The Department recognised that its processing of claims was not always quick and that it had not yet done enough to reduce the time it takes to process them. It claimed that it now has ‘the right plans in place’ …

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2020

7 events
18 Sep 2020 | Committee report linked

The Department relies upon a disturbingly weak evidence base to assess the impact of its immigration enforcement activity. The lack of reliable evidence on what works prevents it from planning and prioritising its activities effectively. The Department accepts that it cannot easily use data to measure the impact of the £400 million it spends each year in Immigration Enforcement and has a “dearth of information” in some aspects of its activities. It allocates resources between its different im...

The Department relies upon a disturbingly weak evidence base to assess the impact of its immigration enforcement activity. The lack of reliable evidence on what works prevents it from planning and prioritising its activities effectively. The Department accepts that it …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
18 Sep 2020 | Committee report linked

The Department’s failure to develop an end-to-end understanding of the immigration system leads to problems which it could avoid. At present, there are gaps in its digital and paper trail, and it is likely these have an impact on Immigration Enforcement’s ability to remove individuals from the UK. The Department says that there is now an “active conversation” with Ministers around improving its ability to move cases through the system. In 2019, the Department released 62% of immigration detai...

The Department’s failure to develop an end-to-end understanding of the immigration system leads to problems which it could avoid. At present, there are gaps in its digital and paper trail, and it is likely these have an impact on Immigration …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
18 Sep 2020 | Committee report linked

We are not convinced that the Department is sufficiently prepared to safeguard the status of individuals while also implementing a new immigration system and managing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department faces several challenges in the immediate future. The extension of visas during the COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns that mistakes in case and data management could affect an individual’s future immigration status. The Immigration Enforcement directorate also needs to adapt ...

We are not convinced that the Department is sufficiently prepared to safeguard the status of individuals while also implementing a new immigration system and managing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department faces several challenges in the immediate future. …

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18 Sep 2020 | Committee report linked

We asked how the Department allocated resources across the immigration system and heard that this relies upon the judgements of senior staff rather than direct evidence. The Department explained that a “dearth of information” on some immigration enforcement activities meant it is not possible to assess the outcomes of deploying resources from one part of the system to another.20 The Department accepted that it had not always focussed on gathering data that would allow Immigration Enforcement ...

We asked how the Department allocated resources across the immigration system and heard that this relies upon the judgements of senior staff rather than direct evidence. The Department explained that a “dearth of information” on some immigration enforcement activities meant …

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18 Sep 2020 | Committee report linked

We asked the Department to account for the plummeting number of people it returns to their countries of origin. The Department claimed that the fall in returns was because of greater compliance with immigration rules, changes to the legal framework and higher numbers of claims made on human rights, modern slavery, asylum or medical grounds.30 The Department asserted that most asylum claims in detention are designed to thwart the system, but it accepted it was struggling to see what it could d...

We asked the Department to account for the plummeting number of people it returns to their countries of origin. The Department claimed that the fall in returns was because of greater compliance with immigration rules, changes to the legal framework …

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18 Sep 2020 | Committee report linked

We asked whether Immigration Enforcement should focus on in-country immigration enforcement rather than having to provide support at the border. The Department responded that it sees managing immigration into the country and in- country as a single system.41 However, the NAO reported that the Department “does not yet manage” immigration enforcement as an end-to-end system.42 The Department accepted the need for an end-to-end perspective which supports a smoother route for people through its i...

We asked whether Immigration Enforcement should focus on in-country immigration enforcement rather than having to provide support at the border. The Department responded that it sees managing immigration into the country and in- country as a single system.41 However, the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
18 Sep 2020 | Committee report linked

The Department told us that it works with different parts of the public sector and Government, such as the Ministry of Justice, to deliver its immigration enforcement services, and that this cooperation may not appear in its performance data.46 We heard that Immigration Enforcement is providing more opportunities for face-to-face interactions and maintaining contact with people even when they are engaged with other agencies.47 It claimed that this allowed it to make the “right intervention” w...

The Department told us that it works with different parts of the public sector and Government, such as the Ministry of Justice, to deliver its immigration enforcement services, and that this cooperation may not appear in its performance data.46 We …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK