Migration news roundup week commencing 08 December 2025

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.

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

UK borders and migration policy

The Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 is now law. This article considers what is new compared with previous legislation. There are concerns the new law could result in intrusive searches of people arriving on small boats, including children, through mouth checks and removing outer layers of clothing. Relatedly, French police have now agreed to intercept vessels in the water to prevent Channel crossings, although they won’t take action after passengers have boarded. (Sources: Home Office, Free Movement, the Guardian, BBC)

Following the release of Home Office immigration statistics in November, there’s more reaction to the figures:

• this article highlights the 26% fall in accepted applications for resettlement (to around 7,300), one of the few ‘safe and legal’ routes for refugees to enter the UK, and the possible impact on small boat crossings. (Source: the Guardian)
• this piece provides further analysis of the data on different migration routes and some gaps in the data. (Source: Free Movement)

In their annual data report, a network of frontline charities across the UK described an ‘entrenched migrant homelessness crisis’ caused by policies including eVisas, no recourse to public funds and the reversion to a shorter, 28-day move on period, as well as a lack of legal aid. (Source: NACCOM)

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) 2024 report for the Gatwick immigration removal centre has been published, highlighting an increase in serious incidents, such as protests about slow case progression. Other concerns included violence, mental health issues, inadequate interpreting, and the detention of people with vulnerabilities. (Source: IMB)

Specific migrant groups

After confirming an annual bill of nearly £16 million on transport for people in the asylum system, the government announced that from February, asylum seekers attending medical appointments will only be able to use taxis in exceptional circumstances. This article notes the impact on government subcontractors, highlighting that asylum hotels can be in locations with limited public transport. (Source: TaxiPoint)

There’s been media coverage of the impacts of the recent government announcements of plans related to asylum and settlement policy on people across different immigration statuses:

• This article highlights the impact of the announcements around eligibility for settlement in the case of a care worker. It describes how a Ghanaian woman, employed as a carer and with a disabled child, decided to stop claiming in-work benefits due to her fear of the implications for her future settlement application. (Source: the Guardian)
• A women's charity has published a list of reasons they believe newly proposed asylum policy will be harmful to women seeking asylum. They argue the proposals dismiss concerns of violence and sexual exploitation in the asylum system and will force them into unsafe and precarious situations with limited support. (Source: Women for Refugee Women)
• People from Syria and Ukraine describe the inability to plan ahead due to the temporary nature of their immigration status. (Source: BBC)

The Home Office has started to process settlement applications from Syrian refugees following an update to the country policy and information notes in the summer. Applicants have been sent a letter requesting information about their continued need for protection, warning that failure to respond within 21 days may result in their refugee status being ‘ceased’. (Source: Free Movement)

The Upper Tribunal has issued one of the first rulings overturning an age assessment by the Home Office’s National Age Assessment Board. (Source: Doughty Street Chambers)

Hong Kongers gathered in London to remember victims of deadly fires that broke out in Hong Kong at the end of November. (Source: MSN, one minute)

Cohesion and integration

This research looks at care needs and experiences of older migrants living in Sheffield, exploring how their experiences of migration may affect their access to good care. (Source: Centre for Care)

In this piece, residents of Stirchley in Birmingham discuss voluntary drives to remove St George’s Flags hung in public spaces. The interviewees share experiences of being targeted and made to feel unsafe while removing flags. The article also mentions similar activity in Sheffield. (Source: the Guardian)

A British-American journalist pays tribute to his dad, who migrated from India to the UK in 1965, in a video where he situates his dad’s story amidst xenophobic and othering narratives that dominate debates on migration. (Source: Zeteo, four minutes)

International news

As 2.5 million Afghan refugees have been expelled from both Pakistan and Iran this year, this article examines the impacts and reasons behind the expulsions. (Source: The New York Times)

Peru is likely to declare a state of emergency at the Chilean border to prevent unauthorised crossings of people coming from Chile, many originally from Venezuela. A presidential candidate in the forthcoming Chilean election has threatened deportations of undocumented people if he’s elected. (Source: Al Jazeera)

Stories that inspired us this week

Refugee families who have settled across Leicester share their thoughts on joining a Christmas party hosted at De Montfort University by students and staff in collaboration with the British Red Cross. (Source: De Montfort University)

The Millennium Gallery in Sheffield will host a Ukrainian Christmas market on Saturday 13 December, offering the opportunity to taste Ukrainian food, appreciate handmade items and learn about Ukrainian traditions. (Source: Sheffield Museums)