Migration news roundup week commencing 11 May 2026

View of Houses of Parliament from bridge over river Thames

This Migration News Roundup presents a selection of news, policy, research and statistics from the previous week on migration-related topics. The contents of each story do not necessarily reflect the views of Migration Yorkshire.

Specific migrant groups
Cohesion and integration
UK borders and migration policy
International news
Stories that inspired us this week

Specific migrant groups

News related to people with refugee status includes indications of potential expansion and withdrawal from resettlement:

Shabana Mahmood said that after the asylum system is 'fixed', she wants to expand legal pathways for refugees to come to the UK, with capped schemes for study and work alongside community sponsorship schemes. However, recent changes to settlement policy are already facing legal challenge by two Sudanese people who claim that granting only temporary status to refugees is a flawed and discriminatory policy. (Sources: Times of India, the Guardian)
Lancashire County Council could become the first local authority to withdraw from refugee resettlement schemes in future, according to a cabinet member. (Source: LocalGov)

Campaigners have criticised Home Office plans to reform safeguards for vulnerable people in immigration detention, which will focus on current needs rather than risk of potential harm. (Source: Medical Justice)

Various outlets reported on statistics about how many people received Universal Credit in 2025 by immigration status, revealed after a freedom of information request. (Source: Birmingham Live)

Modern slavery will continue rising and the UK response is ‘no longer sufficient’ according to a report from the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) that assesses the coming decade. Recommendations include improvements to survivor support, a National Survivor Council to inform policy, and a Modern Slavery Strategy alongside a more coordinated government approach. The increasing use of technology by perpetrators is also a key priority. (Source: IASC)

Cohesion and integration

More in Common released an in-depth report on 'Dissenting Disruptors', part of analysis that differentiates between seven groups within the UK population based on their core values. ‘Disruptors’ feel disconnected from society and deep pessimism about the future with a strong reaction against multiculturalism and migration. (Source: More in Common)

In South Yorkshire ReSTORE, an award‑winning UK programme, is helping refugee and internationally trained nurses overcome barriers, rebuild confidence, and enable them to retrain and return to healthcare practice through tailored support. (Source: Royal College of Nursing)

York Minster hosts the latest talk in the Ebor Lectures series, about society’s responses to refugees on 20 May. The public lecture ‘When Every Hope has Gone’ will be delivered by Professor Alison Phipps from Glasgow University. (Source: York Press)

UK borders and migration policy

There are many news items about Channel crossings:

While the media reports the number of people arriving on small boats has almost reached 200,000 since records began eight years ago, so far this year arrivals are down by more than a third compared with 2025; just over 7,200 people arrived by early May, compared with over 11,500 in the same period last year. (Sources: GB News, BBC)
This interview with an aid worker in France considers possible reasons for fewer arrivals, including French police action along the coast and German success in disrupting boat supply. (Source: Times News, eight minutes)
Tragedy struck again in the Channel with two young women losing their lives attempting the crossing. (Source: BBC)
A man returned from the UK to France under the ‘one in, one out’ scheme has had his asylum claim rejected by France and may be returned to Syria. It’s thought to be the first time this outcome has transpired. (Source: the Guardian)
Footage purporting to show the UK Border Force intercepting a boat has been revealed to be AI-generated by fact checkers. (Source: Full Fact)

A UK immigration officer has been found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service after tracking Hong Kong dissidents using his Home Office computer and sending information to Chinese authorities. Meanwhile two people have been arrested on immigration offences after a BBC undercover investigation on immigration advisers. (Source: BBC)

Without inward migration, the populations of Scotland and Wales would have shrunk over the past decade, according to this article summarising the net migration picture in those nations. (Source: Migration Observatory)

International news

UNHCR’s role itself is being displaced in Malaysia. An international non-governmental organisation warns that Malaysia’s new government-run refugee registration system risks undermining refugee rights and privacy by enabling greater surveillance and control, without adequate safeguards. (Source: Human Rights Watch)

This article highlights the contribution of displaced people to Uganda’s urban economies. As more people move from rural refugee settlements to urban areas, many become entrepreneurs, taxpayers and employers. (Source: Global Voices)

Stories that inspired us this week

A Million Acts of Hope, a national invitation to celebrate the everyday kindness, care and connection happening across the UK, takes place from 13 to 20 May. Together With Refugees along with many other organisations will take part. (Source: Together with Refugees)