Ministry of the Interior appoints immigration officials in child social services and dozens of other local authorities, in agreement that raised concerns about ability of most vulnerable to lookup supportkeeper can reveal.
Officers are part of “extended verification service”, which includes providing information about peopleright to work and their acceptability for council services. built-in official can also pass details of unregistered people to immigration officials.
These immigration officers were placed in 25 local governments, according to records obtained at large of information (FOI). They are work through services that with vulnerable people including children and homelessness. social care and mental health care. Other using arrangement since 2016 also enable transport for London and HS2.
Some of consumers” for this service is specially child social care teams, but the documents state that officers must work through range of local government services.
on Reported by the Observer. in at the beginning of 2019. Exposing that the Home Office is “hiring outimmigration authorities to enforce hostile government environment policy was met with outrage from critics, leading many local authorities expel the officers, and remove the Ministry of the Interior information about the service from government sites.
However, the service continued to work. Recordings released in responses to FoI queries show that at the end of 2021, 12 local governments, as well as HS2 and TfL, still had immigration officers. on on behalf of of Ministry of the Interior, including five where officers were placed specifically in childrenservices.
Shadow minister for immigration officer Stephen Kinnock said: “Saving children safety is an absolute priority and there should there won’t be actions that put this on risk. The Ministry of the Interior should explain exactly what these officers do, and how they can guarantee that their work does not deny vulnerability children in support or protection They need”.
Mary Atkinson, Campaigner at the Joint Council for welfare of Immigrants, said, “It’s scary to hear that government perpetuate hostility in the services families rely on on for help and protection. Just now like hostile environment in healthcare, we know This practice sows fear in our communities and prevents people from searching support.
“It’s time government ended this dangerous and discriminatory approach – every resident should be able to rely on their trust in local councils in times of need”.
Colin Yeoh, an immigration lawyer at Garden Court Chambers, said: “Councils are not required by law to cooperate with immigration authorities in This way and it’s disappointing to see them volunteer creating hostile environment for vulnerable migrants. Forced deportations and voluntary returns are very rare nowadays, so all they do is force people underground who need help and support get on their legs.”
A model agreement between the Home Office and local authorities reviewed by The Guardian shows the extent to which immigration authorities work through council services.
document marked “official sensitive”, states: “the officer will work following teams within the customer’s organization; housing needs; homelessness and immigration team; childrencare services; adult social care; adult psychiatric services … a staff member will real-immigration status check time support consumers decision- production in relation to the individual or family right for support or benefits and tips on effects of these status checks.
Advice provided by an immigration officer includes providing information about peopleright to work and their acceptability for council services.
According to “do not resort to public funds” policy, people without the right to remain in UK denied access to range of public services such as housing. the officer also there to advise on “voluntary return”, according to which people return to your country of citizenship, according to the document.
Local authorities who appointed immigration officers in children’s services included Enfield, Sutton, Thurrock, Slough and Barnet.
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At the end of 2021, 12 local governments that still had immigration officers with them on on behalf of of The Home Office were: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Enfield, Essex, Greenwich, Hertfordshire, Hillingdon, Slough, Sutton, Thurrock and Newham.
A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior stated: “Local authorities may request support on issues related to immigration, with advice on specific cases where appropriate, but this is voluntary and aims to help vulnerable migrants, especially single mothers and families with small children resolve their status. Usually used for help those who disadvantaged access appropriate support.
“Individual decisions are made local authorities, not immigration officers, and suggest otherwise wrong”.
