BritCits

A few months late, but still appropriate : an awesome letter from Smita Bajaria, noted immigration lawyer

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/opinion/letters/demolition-welfare-state

'Mr Khan should also be aware that very large numbers of people will remain separated from their loved ones as a result of the recent changes to the rules on family migration. This will include many of those in his own constituency, who will tell him that their partners have been refused visas or leave to remain.

'I am now meeting and talking to the very people who will never be able to earn the sort of money which this government seems to think they can in order for them to be with their family members from abroad. It is heartbreaking to listen to the stories of people on low incomes and those with young children who cannot return to work. Again, from April 2013 there will be no legal aid for those who want to appeal any such refusals.

 
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https://twitter.com/APPGMigration tweets :
Lord Roberts rips into the unfairness of the immigration rules
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2013-05-15a.403.6&s

Yes, we crack down on abuse, but we ensure that we meet—and I would like to see us surpass—our human rights obligations and commitments. I was delighted when the Minister for Justice, my colleague the noble Lord, Lord McNally, said that he had no plan whatever to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. We must not withdraw. One of the great sayings that I relish is that of Dr Martin Luther King: that we seek to build,

“a society that can live with its conscience”.

We seek to live in a society that is true to its conscience.
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https://twitter.com/paulfreathy tweets :
I am one of those UK citizens trying to get a spousal visa for my wife of 10 years from SA, NOT easy!
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“I am like a prisoner in this country”.

http://asirt.org.uk/wordpress/?p=174

At ASIRT’s weekly “drop-in” session today, we were disturbed to hear of the difficulties experienced by Adrienn and Dele, a married couple who came to see us in considerable distress. Adrienn is a Hungarian citizen, who has been living in the UK for the past 5 years, working for the majority of that time in accordance with her EU treaty rights. Dele, her husband, is Nigerian and, as a non-EU citizen, has a derivative right to reside in the UK as the partner of an EU citizen.

The team responsible for processing Adrienn’s Income Support claim are refusing to do so unless and until they have sight of not only her passport, but also Dele’s. Both passports have been in the possession of the UK Border Agency for two-and-a-half years, having been submitted by Dele along with an application for recognition of his right to reside. The couple approached their MP for help with this delay in March, to receive an response from the UKBA advising them that they could expect a decision “within 20 working days”. It’s now mid-May. They have still heard nothing.


Let's take note of one important point here - Adrienn is a Hungarian national with a non-EU partner. And she is having huge problems with living here because of the sheer bureaucracy of the system. People are like are people British citizens affected by the rules need to build solidarity with, for the benefit of all.

And let's dispel the myth, once and for all, that Europeans have it somehow easier in the UK. What will win this battle is solidarity and common cause amongst all the affected and oppressed groups.
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Scotland's move to protect victims of modern slave trade is model for the world.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/maria-grazia-giammarinaro/scotlands-move-to-protect_b_3284739.html

Scotland's move towards "non-punishment" of victims is a major milestone in the ongoing effort to combat human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights and a growing social injustice. It is a move that I applaud. As Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the world's largest regional security organisation, I see this as a model that needs to be widely followed.
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Life after deportation.

http://www.lifeafterdeportation.com/dear-ukba/?utm_source=feedly

Letter from a young asylum seeker.

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Liverpool council deputy leader Paul Brant hails migration boom as positive news for city’s economic growth.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2013/05/16/liverpool-council-deputy-leader-paul-brant-hails-migration-boom-as-positive-news-for-city-s-economic-growth-99623-33336353/
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ONS stats show half 7.5m 'foreign born' ppl in UK are British citizens.

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/detailed-characteristics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/country-of-birth---rpt.html#tab-How-does-country-of-birth-compare-with-nationality-

Via https://twitter.com/MigrantVoiceUK

https://twitter.com/patelsmie tweets :
Go home? #Thisishome!
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https://twitter.com/NUSISCampaign tweets :
A debate on international students has been secured in the house of commons on the 6th of June by @nadhimzahawi & @PaulBlomfieldMP.
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https://twitter.com/jdportes tweets :
Well over 90% of pupils whose language at home isn't English speak English "well" or "very well".
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_310514.pdf - that's Britain's English-speaking yet multilingual, global future!
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https://twitter.com/patelsmie tweets :
To be against globalisation is like spitting in the wind. Quote of Day: José Manuel Barroso, European Commission Head
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/9da6bd26-bd6d-11e2-a735-00144feab7de,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F9da6bd26-bd6d-11e2-a735-00144feab7de.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F8Tu4BZBKXg#axzz2TSC9ei6T
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https://twitter.com/patelsmie tweets :
Lestweforget: "Is it desirable in crowded country like UK to permit indiscriminate immigration?"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-1809.1925.tb02037.x/pdf
*shudders* #eugenics
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https://twitter.com/tinaleeinberlin tweets :
ERRC: Italy Violates Roma Rights with Overcrowded Camps, Segregated Education, and Marginalization
http://www.errc.org/article/italian-policies-are-violating-human-rights-of-roma/4140
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https://twitter.com/ncadc tweets :
Terrible news from Australia - has removed itself from Refugee Convention for boat arrivals
https://www.facebook.com/Asylum.Seeker.Resource.Centre.ASRC/posts/548579568513527
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'It all started with the British media igniting the debate with fabricated and hyperbolized immigration speculations. These were the sparkles which lit the fire. The mainstream parties joined in with their 'we hear people's concerns' line. These tactics created a prolific environment for extreme views to grow into mainstream. '

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/oana-romocea/immigration-the-game-changer-british-politics_b_3260594.html
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Guerilla art project captures Japan's northeast in portraits.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/05/16/photos-guerrilla-art-project-captures-japans-northeast-in-portraits/

In November 2012, a truck departed from the northeast Japanese city of Kesennuma on a journey to Fukushima. Its sides were pasted over with pictures of a giant eye, and at the back of the truck was an opening like a mailbox slot. The truck was equipped with a camera to take people's photos and a large-format printer to print them out.

The truck was part of French artist JR‘s “Inside Out” project, an art concept based on public participation. The artist's project is centered on taking photos of people on the street in different parts of the world and then pasting their portraits on the sides of buildings. The project is a global platform for people to share their untold stories and transform messages of personal identity into works of public art.