New government to speed up asylum claims and stop sending gay asylum seekers home
21 May
The coalition’s controversial Programme for Government was published on 20 May and stated that they plan to speed up asylum applications, confirmed they would end child detention, and also that they would no longer deport gay asylum seekers. These policies were covered across the press, in amongst the many other policy pledges.
See our statement on this here.
The Sun: Greenprint for Britain
Times: Coalition reveals popular side of a ‘manifesto’ that drops key pledges
Guardian: Schools and welfare to dominate Queen’s speech
Guardian: Law must protect gay asylum seekers
Gay Iranian actress fears for life
21 May
On the same day the government announced they would protect gay asylum seekers, a gay Iranian actress who plays a lesbian seeking asylum in Britain in a film to be premiered in London this weekend, has spoken out about her fears of deportation. She has had her own claim for asylum refused by the Home Office and if her appeal is rejected, she faces deportation to Iran, where homosexuality is punishable by death.
Times: Iranian actress Kiana Firouz fears film of her life ends in death
Evening Standard: Lesbian actress says she will be executed if she is sent back to Iran
Obama’s aunt granted asylum in the US
18 May
Obama’s aunt has been granted asylum in the US, on the grounds that she would be in danger if she returned to her native Kenya because of political and ethnic violence, and because she is related to the US President. She has living in the US illegally for six years, since her previous asylum claim was rejected.
Guardian: Obama’s aunt wins US plea for asylum
Telegraph: Obama’s aunt granted asylum
New government agrees to end child detention
13-15 May
After years of campaigning, the Refugee Council was delighted when the new government announced they would end child detention in their coalition agreement document on 12 May. The Home Office later announced that this would happen within a few months and that they would set up a review of alternatives to detention. Although pleased, this is something we will be keeping a close and cautious eye on over the next few months.
See our statement here.
Times: Detention of asylum seeking children to be scrapped
Guardian: Michael Bartlet – a welcome move on child detention
Guardian: Natasha Walter - The revival of sanctuary
Independent: Department by department, what the new government plans to do
Children and Young People Now: Coalition document spells end to detention of immigrant children
Guardian: Asylum children will be kept out of distressing detention centres
BBC: Children ‘to remain’ at Dungavel
Supreme Court hears cases of two gay asylum seekers
9 May
The Supreme Court was to hear the cases of two gay asylum seekers who were appealing against Home Office decisions that they should not be granted status in the UK. According to the Guardian the men from Cameroon and Iran were told to return to their countries and repress their sexuality to avoid being attacked or killed when their claims were refused.
Guardian: UK policy on gay and lesbian asylum seekers challenged in Supreme Court
Detention centre loses safety award
8 May
After the sudden death of an asylum seeker at Oakington Detention Centre earlier this year, the British Safety Council decided to withdraw the centre’s 2009 safety award.
Guardian: Detention centre forfeits award
