The Court of Appeal in London has lifted the stay on a High Court Order ruling that Detention Fast Track (DFT) appeals on the grounds of it being an inconvenience to the government.
This means the Home Office can no longer impose fast track detention deadlines on asylum seekers in Britain — which means they can no longer be detained throughout their process for simply claiming asylum.
@RefugeeWeek @DetentionForum Fail to earn £35,000 or FACE DEPORTATION! New UK rule for Non-EU http://t.co/TgaBnw9Ced pic.twitter.com/VsZWS8TGO6
— STOP UK FAST TRACK (@StopFastTrackUK) June 25, 2015
Speaking outside the Court of Appeal, Director of Detention Action Jerome Phelps said:
"We are delighted that asylum-seekers will no longer face a detained appeals process that is so unfair as to be unlawful. It is unfortunate that it has taken so many court rulings to finally suspend this deeply flawed process."
A recent ruling at the High Court in London said Britain's fast track detention process was unlawful. But a judgement by Mr Justice Nicol, which infuriated campaigners, said the system was "structurally unfair" and was "…uncomfortably akin to sacrificing fairness on the alter of speed and convenience."
The judge, however, also said: "In my judgement it is right that I should grant a stay pending an appeal (by the Lord Chancellor) to the Court of Appeal" — basically allowing the system, already ruled unlawful to continue. But now this inconvenient stay has been lifted by the Court of Appeal.
"People seeking protection form war and persecution deserve better from British justice. We hope that the government will take this opportunity to reflect and develop a different approach that is fair," said Director of Detention Action, Jerome Phelps.
Non-EU Migrants Must Earn $55,000
Another Home Office immigration policy expected to cause controversy and "chaos" is a plan by the Conservative government to deport non-EU migrants who earn under $55,000 (£35,000) a year.
From April 2016, Britain's new immigration rules will mean that people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) must be earning $55,000 (£35,000) or more before they are allowed to settle in the UK after a period of six years.
On 31 March, 3,483 people found themselves behind bars in #immigration detention — the highest number since 2011 pic.twitter.com/zMchPOY8pt
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) June 26, 2015
This according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will plunge the NHS into chaos.
The RCN said the change will cause chaos in the health service "intensifying the severe shortage of nurses in the UK, compromising patient safety, as well as costing the health service millions."
"These rules will force many nurses to return to their home countries, leaving hospitals with nothing to show for the millions of pounds spent on recruiting them." The RCN also estimates that up to 3365 nurses will be forced to leave their job.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN said: "The immigration rules for healthcare workers will cause chaos for the NHS and other care services. At a time when demand is increasing, the UK is perversely making is harder to employ staff from overseas.
"The RCN is now repeating its call to add nursing to the shortage occupation list."
Non-EU migrants who have spent more than five years working in the UK will be required to earn £35,000 per year — or face deportation, according to a policy that comes into effect in April 2016.
