Steve Valdez-Symonds

The word ‘illegal’ when used in relation to immigration is simply the most pejorative & hostility-inducing means to generalise about a disparate group of people whose circumstances vary significantly. 1/8

@MigObs Impact of NABA 2022 (implemented by LAB though introduced by CON when the former chose to start deciding claims the latter refused to decide) is having huge impact. Decision-making now suggests such nonsense as the Taliban have made Afghanistan safer or Iran is getting safer.

Our press release about today's Home Office statistics is out, and shows that increased asylum processing is not cutting hotel accomodation, as the appeals backlog balloons - also a 98% drop in asylum grant rate for Syrians migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/press/asylum-h…

Ministers in this & last Government keep defending wasting billions by refusing to decide people’s asylum claims fairly & efficiently (harming refugees & public funds). Sadly, much mainstream politics (including Reform) remains committed to the same. theguardian.com/politics/live/…

The decision to strip Begum of British citizenship despite the fact she was born here sent a message to all the children/grand children of immigrants: we can take your citizenship away. @stevesymondsAI is right here - Begum is British & should be brought back #GMB

UK: Syrian refugees must not be left stuck in 'asylum limbo' ‘Historic as it is, the fall of Assad’s brutal regime provides no guarantee of safety whatsoever in what remains a complicated and volatile situation in #Syria’ - @stevesymondsAI amnesty.org.uk/press-releases…

Responding to new Government immigration statistics released today ... ‘There’s no compromising on the need for asylum in a world torn by conflict, authoritarianism and oppression’ - @stevesymondsAI amnesty.org.uk/press-releases…

This briefing explains what is responsibility-sharing & why that is so important to the right to asylum - also to managing people’s exercise of this right in a fair, efficient & safe way: 4/4 amnesty.org.uk/resources/brie…

This briefing identifies key pieces of legislation that must be repealed - these are at the heart of how the last government wrecked the asylum system: 3/4 amnesty.org.uk/resources/brie…

As confirmed by recent newspaper reports, government persists with an underlying ambition to avoid asylum responsibilities by preventing people’s arrival. This is wrong & harmful. The following @AmnestyUK briefings identify how & why this must change. 1/4 theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/n…

“UK leaders have too long attempted to shirk responsibility, even to the point of wrecking the country's own asylum system”, writes @stevesymondsAI of @AmnestyUK 🇬🇧 The UK must share, not shirk, asylum responsibilities politics.co.uk/comment/2024/1…

RT: Booklet: Children & their rights to British Citizenship. prcbc.org/wp-content/upl… Foreword: @BZephaniah (Benjamin generously wrote this foreword in 2022, before he passed away. We are forever grateful)🙏🏽 illustration: @chrisriddell50 (our sincere gratitude to Chris) 🙏🏽

Response from @AmnestyUK's @stevesymondsAI to the new quarterly immigration (including asylum) statistics

Family whose eldest daughter died on their fifth attempt to make this crossing in search of dignity & safety, say their conditions remain such that they will have to try again. Safe lives, help people, share responsibility. 2/2 bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Bitterly tragic exposure of futility of stopping boats. This policy is cruel & deadly: heightening risks by not only making each journey more dangerous, but compelling people to make several journeys. Safe lives, help people, share responsibility. 1/2 bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Responding to news that the Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal against a decision to revoke Shamima Begum's citizenship 'Stripping Shamima Begum’s nationality was profoundly wrong - she is and has always been British' - @stevesymondsAI amnesty.org.uk/press-releases…

“Targeting immigration services & their users is the latest appalling development of the racist hate & violence that's erupted over these last days" @AmnestyUK's @stevesymondsAI ahead of expected racist targeting of law firms & support services #UKRiots amnesty.org.uk/press-releases…

Thanks to all providing service to others. Whether paid, volunteer, in uniform, for public or private body, or in your own time, all of us depend on you, some of us far more directly than others. If you’re feeling scared or low at this time, know at least your kindness is valued.

I'm a migrant! I'm a lawyer! In the last 12 years, I have become even more committed to young people born in the UK or from migrant backgrounds at the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens @PRCBC1. 1/4 🕊️

@HansardSociety But that’s not quite correct. Unlike the s30 & s31 statutory obligations, the s2 duty has never been commenced. So, while it would have applied as you say if commenced, it’s wrong to say “applied” in this context notwithstanding the effect on of these regs on these provisions.

Before today, a "duty to remove" asylum seekers who arrived in the UK illegally - found in s. 2 of the Act - applied to any asylum seeker who arrived in the UK after the IMA received Royal Assent (20 July 2023).

🧵The Home Secretary has just signed a Statutory Instrument to remove the retrospective effect of the Illegal Migration Act (IMA). But where did this power come from? What has changed? And why is Parliament unlikely to debate or vote on it? legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/815/…

More on this policy here: 2/2 amnesty.org.uk/resources/amne…

How much more is needed before @ukhomeoffice scraps its reckless plan to make every migrant person in the UK entirely dependent on an online digital system to prove their status here & all their everyday rights based on that status? 1/2 theguardian.com/technology/art…