The Home Office must drop ‘hostile environment’ approach for Brexit

Background information

In the context of the political storm in the UK during April 2018 concerning the Undocumented Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK (known as 'Windrush' cases), and the publication of reports from the Law Society, the Migration Observatory and the Eurochildren Project), there was a worry about the issue of securing 'settled status' for the 3 mllion EU citizens living in the UK after Brexit.

The Institute for Government

The Institute for Government is an independent charity in the United Kingdom working to increase government effectiveness.

It works with all the main political parties at Westminster and with senior civil servants in Whitehall. It provides evidence based advice that draws on best practice from around the world.

The Institute for Government is a registered charity in England and Wales (Registered Charity No.1123926).

The charitable objectives of the Institute are:

+ The advancement of education in the art and science of government in the UK for the benefit of the public and on a non-party political basis;
+ The promotion of efficient public administration of government and public service in the UK by providing programmes of education, training, research and study for the public benefit and on a non-party political basis.
Millions of EU nationals living in Britain would need to apply for ‘settled status’ after Brexit. With tight timelines and groups needing help with their application, Joe Owen argued that Home Office belligerence must end.

• Primary Source

The UK in a Changing Europe: Blog, 04.06.18: The imperial nostalgia of a ‘Small Island’ http://ukandeu.ac.uk/the-imperial-nostalgia-of-a-small-island/

The 3 Million: The Hostile Environment https://www.the3million.org.uk/hostile-environment

Politico, 11.05.18: UN: Migrants face ‘hostile environment’ in post-Brexit Britain https://www.politico.eu/article/tendayi-achiume-un-brexit-racism-uk-migrants-face-hostile-environment-in-post-brexit-britain-un/

Business Insider, 19.05.18: EU citizens at risk from May's 'hostile environment' after Brexit, warns former UK civil service chief http://uk.businessinsider.com/eu-citizens-at-risk-from-theresa-may-hostile-environment-brexit-uk-civil-service-lord-kerslake-2018-5

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

The Conversation, 18.04.18: Windrush generation is not alone – children of EU-born citizens could be next https://theconversation.com/windrush-generation-is-not-alone-children-of-eu-born-citizens-could-be-next-95232

University of Birmingham: Institue for Researcn into Superdiversity: Project: Eurochildren: EU families & Eurochildren in Brexiting Britain https://eurochildren.info/

ESO: Find more information on Citizen's rights after Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=brexit%20after%20citizens%27%20rights%20&searchOption=all

The Migration Observatory: Report, April 2018: Unsettled Status? Which EU Citizens are at Risk of Failing to Secure their Rights after Brexit? (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/unsettled-status-the-big-challenge-of-securing-eu-citizens-residence-rights-after-brexit/

The Law Society: Press Release, 12.04.18: Failures in UK immigration and asylum undermine the rule of law http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/news/press-releases/failures-in-uk-immigration-and-asylum-undermine-the-rule-of-law/

LSE Brexit: Blog, 25.06.18: International Health Service: how the NHS has always relied on overseas labour http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2018/06/25/international-health-service-how-the-nhs-has-always-relied-on-overseas-labour/

The UK in a Changing Europe: Blog, 16.05.18: The new Home Secretary Sajid Javid needs to press reset on immigration policy – here’s how http://ukandeu.ac.uk/the-new-home-secretary-sajid-javid-needs-to-press-reset-on-immigration-policy-heres-how/

In Facts, 19.04.18: We mustn’t repeat Windrush scandal with EU citizens https://infacts.org/we-mustnt-repeat-windrush-scandal-with-eu-citizens/

The Conversation: Tag: Windrush https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/windrush-52562

BBC News: Tag: Windrush deportation row http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c9vwmzw7n7lt/windrush-deportation-row

The Guardian: Tag: Commonwealth immigration https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/commonwealth-immigration

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