Special Immigration Status

The government is planning to introduce a new Special Immigration Status for foreign criminals and their dependants whom it cannot remove from the country as to do so would breach their human rights. This is contained in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill.

The Refugee Council believes that the creation of this additional form of status is a wholly unnecessary, disproportionate and inappropriate response. The government accepts that the people to whom this status will be applied either cannot be removed safely or that to do so would be disproportionate to their family life. Nevertheless it seeks in effect to punish them by placing them in a form of legal and economic limbo. They should be given leave and treated equally with UK citizens.

This briefing describes the details of the new status and outlines the Refugee Council’s concerns.

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