Christopher Desira

Human rights & immigration solicitor @theseraphus @freemovementlaw @EUdelegationUK; & Trustee @wearesettld. Also do politics, drawing & The Arsenal.

[Guardian politics @GdnPolitics]

Spanish woman deported from UK after returning from Christmas holiday https://t.co/i3f7p0pUxO

[Seraphus @theseraphus]

We are excited have our team attending the EU Citizen's Gathering in London today - a day of insightful discussions on the future of EU citizens' networks. Working together to advocate for the right development in this area of migration legislation! ✊📣

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

“We will legislate legislation confirming that we’re not breaching other legislation when we’re breaching legislation that would confirm we’re beaching legislation because the legislation we’ve legislated says we’re not breaching legislation.

You get me?”

[Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 @Haggis_UK]

Rishi Sunak: "We will take the extraordinary step of announcing emergency legislation. This will enable Parliament to confirm that with our new treaty Rwanda is safe. I will not allow a foreign court to block these flights to Rwanda."

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

They’ve gone all Loony Toons. Election Please!

[Robert Peston @Peston]

The new Home Secretary’s revealed preference is not to reform the Human Rights Act or resile from the European Convention on Human Rights and UN Refugee Convention. Instead he wants to agree a new treaty with Rwanda such that asylum seekers rejected by Rwanda would be returned to the UK - in the hope this would address the Supreme Court’s concerns with the current Rwanda deal. This raises a whole series of questions, such as whether there would be any point in expelling asylum seekers to Rwanda if Rwanda were to retain discretion to return them to the UK. The other issue is that any treaty with Rwanda would presumably have to be scrutinised and approved by parliament and then tested in the courts. So even if a treaty could be agreed, I cannot see how a single asylum seeker can be expelled to Rwanda before the general election.

[Robert Peston @Peston]

The new Home Secretary’s revealed preference is not to reform the Human Rights Act or resile from the European Convention on Human Rights and UN Refugee Convention. Instead he wants to agree a new treaty with Rwanda such that asylum seekers rejected by Rwanda would be returned to the UK - in the hope this would address the Supreme Court’s concerns with the current Rwanda deal. This raises a whole series of questions, such as whether there would be any point in expelling asylum seekers to Rwanda if Rwanda were to retain discretion to return them to the UK. The other issue is that any treaty with Rwanda would presumably have to be scrutinised and approved by parliament and then tested in the courts. So even if a treaty could be agreed, I cannot see how a single asylum seeker can be expelled to Rwanda before the general election.

[United Nations Association - UK (UNA-UK) @UNAUK]

The UK’s Illegal Migration Bill has passed - a dark turn for human rights in this country, and for Britain’s role in the world.

This attempt to deny the inalienable rights of refugees contravenes international law and threatens global systems of protection.

No human is illegal.

[CJ McKinney @mckinneytweets]

"The Home Office has begun discussions with some EU countries after being asked by Downing Street to agree more youth mobility schemes". https://t.co/9ycznR9nKo

[CJ McKinney @mckinneytweets]

Details of electronic travel authorisation exemption for some residents of Ireland who cross into Northern Ireland, via @jonkingh. https://t.co/MuXyl4ZYcn

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

At some later point in time, the Home Office will expect everyone to have progressed to settled status and will want to deal with those who remain on PSS. So it’s best that those who can, make an EUSS application to confirm settled status. [3/3]

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

Not included in the Statement of Changes, but in a government news piece (https://t.co/825REeriTP) was an announcement that those with enough residence records (HMRC & DWP) will be auto-confirmed as holding settled status and the digital status will be updated accordingly. [1/3]

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

Those with record gaps (typically more vulnerable EU citizens and family members) will presumably only receive the 2-year PSS extension. This process is expected to start sometime in 2024 and will require another Statement of Changes to implement it. [2/3]

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

While EUSS changes have clarified the govt. approach, lots of EUSS questions remain: What are 'relevant cases'? How many 2-year extensions will be granted? How to demonstrate permanent residency with PSS? PSS shouldn’t expire but it will for some, who/why? Clarity needed. [14/15]

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

New Changes to UK Immigration Rules are out.

Big changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), and changes to the Ukraine Extension Scheme, Student route, Asylum, & Skilled Worker routes, plus other minor tweaks. Stay tuned for more details on https://t.co/3MXrs6RDRE. [1/15]🧵"

[Christopher Desira @cldesira]

While EUSS changes have clarified the govt. approach, lots of EUSS questions remain: What are 'relevant cases'? How many 2-year extensions will be granted? How to demonstrate permanent residency with PSS? PSS shouldn’t expire but it will for some, who/why? Clarity needed. [14/15]

[Independent Monitoring Authority @IMA_CitRights]

We note that the Home Office has shared information about how it will implement the judgment in relation to the rights of pre-settled status holders under the EUSS, but we express disappointment at the lack of meaningful engagement and the lack of clarity in the proposals.