Migration news roundup 14 July 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

UK and France have agreed on the ‘one in, one out’ pilot to try to deter Channel crossings, to be implemented within weeks if the European Commission gives approval. Initially up to 50 people per week who arrive on a small boat will be returned immediately to France. The same number of people will be brought from France to the UK. The latter would need to prove family connection in the UK and will arrive under a new ‘legal route’. This briefing shows the timeline and overview of the co-operation between the UK and France on migration. (Sources: Home Office, electronic immigration network, House of Commons Library)

This article explores some ‘pull factors’ that encourage people to come to the UK, including the claim made by France that many people try to cross the Channel because they believe they can work under the radar. The article, however, argues that the UK’s informal economy is smaller than the European average. (Sources: BBC) 

Meanwhile the Home Secretary has praised French tactics to stop small boats from crossing the channel. New strategies include using knives to puncture boats in shallow waters. (Source: the Guardian)

This parliamentary briefing explains the latest developments in a Bill on removing citizenship; the issue being addressed is about continuing to deprive a person of their British citizenship until any government’s appeal has been fully concluded. (Source: House of Commons Library) 

The Ministry of Justice has announced an increase in civic legal aid, including a 30% increase for immigration work. (Source: Ministry of Justice)

Specific migrant groups

The Home Office has announced that it will extend the pilot of longer 'move on' times – 56 days - for newly granted refugees to move out of asylum accommodation until the end of the year. The government is also working with councils to pilot ‘effective and efficient’ alternatives to hotel accommodation. (Source: Local Government Chronicle)

Pious Kekou, a refugee from Ghana, who spent three years in different immigration detention centres in the UK, is campaigning to end detentions, which he describes as dehumanising. (Source: The Observer)

On children and young people:

• The highest number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum to arrive via small boat in one day was reached with the arrival of 70 children at Dover, entering the care of Kent County Council. This comes as the leader of Kent County Council called for quicker asylum decisions and an increase in funding for former-UASC care leavers supported by local authorities. (Source: BBC News)
• A new report highlights the growing issue of children wrongly accommodated in adult asylum hotels and calls for suspension of Home Office initial age determinations at border. (Source: GMIAU)
• Lord Dubs has tabled an amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to enable unaccompanied children seeking asylum to reunite with family members in the UK. (Source: PoliticsHome)

A new report attributes a sustained increase in negative decisions on modern slavery claims to changes to the evidence threshold, introduced in 2023; this is despite the evidence threshold guidance being modified a few months after being introduced, following legal action. (Source: Justice and Care)

In case you missed it, seven members of a smuggling gang in Batley and London were arrested. They were believed to have smuggled around 500 people into the UK, mainly targeting Gambian nationals. (Source: Home Office)

Cohesion and integration

New findings have been published on how language in UK media shapes public views of immigrants’ individuality. The study measured participants levels of empathy and found that reading articles that included ‘mental and emotional state’ language caused participants to be more empathetic and to view migrants as unique individuals with their own thoughts and intentions. (Source: Kings College London)

International news

Greece has announced it will suspend the processing of asylum applications from North Africa for three months due to a recent increase in arrivals. Additionally, migrant registration sites in Greece have come under fire this week, being described as moving from ‘jungle’ conditions to ‘prison’ conditions. (Sources: Al Jazeera, Le Monde)

This article analyses President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’, concluding that it will cause ‘unprecedented harm’ to refugees and immigrants. The Act increases funding for immigration enforcement, excludes refugees from key support programmes, and imposes higher fees on immigration applications. (Source: Global Refuge)

Stories that inspired us this week

Brecon High School becomes the first in Wales to be awarded the School of Sanctuary Status in recognition of its efforts to foster a culture of welcome, inclusion and support for people seeking sanctuary. (Source: The County Times)

In Bradford, a soon to be launched exhibition of photographs tells the story of Ukrainians and Polish communities who migrated to Bradford after World War II. (Source: Telegraph and Argus)