Migration news roundup week commencing 14 Sept 2026
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 UK reached an agreement with Belgium to enable improved intelligence-sharing related to organised crime, including migrant smuggling. In an earlier meeting, Prime Minister Andy Burnham met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and discussed ways to tackle the issue. Relatedly, this parliamentary data briefing highlights statistics showing a significant fall in ‘small boat’ arrival numbers recently from 41,000 in 2025 to 33,000 in the year ending June 2026. (Sources: Home Office, BBC, House of Commons Library)
The latest statement of changes to the Immigration Rules isn’t easy to follow; this article provides a useful overview. A few changes to note include:
changes to student and visitor routes, as the UK prepares to rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme
removing the requirement for children under 18 on the Hong Kong BNO route to have five years of continuous residence prior to being able to apply for settlement, which means they can settle at the same time as a parent who meets the requirements
EU nationals with pre-settled status won’t automatically lose their status if they are no longer eligible but removing their status would be disproportionate.
(Sources: Home Office, Free Movement)
On the government’s proposed changes to settlement, the TUC General secretary added to criticism of the proposed migration reforms, describing them as 'fundamentally unfair' and potentially fuelling far-right sentiment. Meanwhile, new analysis has found that the current cost of £1,709 for UK citizenship is more than five times the estimated £324 cost to the Home Office for administering an application. (Sources: the Guardian, IPPR)
UNHCR has raised concerns regarding the UK's Immigration and Asylum Bill, finding that some of the proposals could impact the fairness of asylum procedures and weaken the conditions for successful integration. (Source: UNHCR)
In case you missed it, an Immigration Updates Dashboard has been published, providing a way to search for changes to Home Office policy, data, guidance and immigration law. (Source: Free Movement)
Specific migrant groups
In news about asylum:
Hull City Council confirmed that after six years the Royal Hotel is no longer being used as asylum accommodation. The council leader welcomed the news and hopes the hotel can be returned to its 'former glory'. (Source: BBC)
A group of masked agitators gathered outside a hotel in Portsmouth, believing a group of individuals claiming asylum had been taken there. The local Reform councillor intervened to explain that the group being targeted was the Pakistani under 19 cricket team. The England and Wales Cricket Board later contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the wellbeing of the young players. (Source: The London Economic)
Newly published asylum tribunal statistics show a slowdown in the growth of the appeals backlog, with commentary anticipating it could start to fall next quarter and querying the quality of Home Office initial decisions, as around 60% of those decisions are either overturned by a judge or ‘withdrawn’ by the Home Office. (Sources: Ministry of Justice, Free Movement)
This article features the experiences of 10 Hong Kongers who have been targeted by China for their campaigning. The article also considers the impact in the UK, with the largest Hong Kong diaspora community living here and ‘transnational repression tactics’ being used to silence dissenting voices. (Source: Amnesty International)
News on international students includes:
A downward trend in international student visa applications at the end of August and a briefing on how to apply for a graduate visa. (Sources: Research Professional News, Free Movement)
The government is reported to be considering making exemptions from the planned international student levy, which requires universities to pay for each international student recruited. (Source: Research Professional News)
From November international students must be able to prove they have over £1,200 per month available to them for living expenses, to be able to study in the UK. This increase is in addition to paying tuition fees, visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge. (Source: Business Insider)
Cohesion and integration
Two significant anti-migrant demonstrations took place at the start of the month:
Both protests were organised by anti-migrant group ‘Patriot Platform’. Hope Not Hate has published a briefing for community groups on the events that took place, including signposting to resources for groups who may need to respond to similar incidents. Relatedly, further protests targeted Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers and their buildings. In response, the Home Secretary called on police to move swiftly and use 'all powers necessary' in dealing with any further anti-migrant disruptions. (Sources: BBC, the Guardian, Hope not Hate)
A number of reports on migration and cohesion have been published:
The Home Affairs Committee and think-tank Demos released findings on public views on work-related migration policy. (Source: UK Parliament)
This report on the meaning of citizenship in an age of migration considers citizenship as meaning equal rights, participation in society and shared identity. It provides suggestions on making citizenship more accessible and meaningful. (Source: IPPR)
A briefing on changing public opinion towards immigration looks broadly at fluctuations in opinion in the UK, as well as how factors such as political affiliation and the level of immigrant skills affects views. (Source: Migration Observatory)
International news
After the ‘Alternative fur Deutschland’ (AfD) party won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, making them the first far-right party in Germany to win since the Second World War, Chancellor Merz called AfD a ‘destructive force with a migration policy that amounts to ethnic cleansing’. Listen to this podcast to find out more about the rise of AfD. (Sources: BBC, The Rest is Politics podcast - first 25 minutes)
This article looks at how Sweden has changed from being one of the most welcoming countries for refugees to adopting some of the most restrictive migration policies. Britons living in Sweden have also been affected, with confirmation that over 450 British individuals have been forcibly removed from Sweden since Brexit, with Sweden refusing three times more post-Brexit residency applications than any other EU member state. (Sources: the Conversation, the Guardian)
The US deported six migrants from Afghanistan and Cuba to Guyana, despite the deportees having no connections to the country. It’s understood the US has made similar arrangements with up to 30 countries. (Source: Al Jazeera)
Stories that inspired us this week
This article shines a light on the remarkable rise of Sagal Abdi-Wali, a journey from Somali child refugee to a candidate for the by-election in Keir Starmer’s former constituency. (Source: the Guardian)
A new photography exhibition, 'Under One Sky', is set to open in Knaresborough, sharing the personal journeys of refugees who have settled across North Yorkshire. (Source: Harrogate Advertiser)