Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • COUNTRIES
    • AFRICA
      • BOTSWANA
      • CAMEROON
      • GAMBIA
      • GHANA
      • KENYA
      • KINGDOM OF eSWATINI
      • LESOTHO
      • MALAWI
      • MAURITIUS
      • MOZAMBIQUE
      • NAMIBIA
      • NIGERIA
      • RWANDA
      • SEYCHELLES
      • SIERRA LEONE
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • TANZANIA
      • UGANDA
      • ZAMBIA
    • ASIA
      • BANGLADESH
      • BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
      • INDIA
      • MALAYSIA
      • MALDIVES
      • PAKISTAN
      • SINGAPORE
      • SRI LANKA
    • CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS
      • ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
      • BAHAMAS
      • BARBADOS
      • BELIZE
      • CANADA
      • DOMINICA
      • GRENADA
      • GUYANA
      • JAMAICA
      • SAINT LUCIA
      • ST KITTS AND NEVIS
      • ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
      • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
    • EUROPE
      • CYPRUS
      • MALTA
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • PACIFIC
      • AUSTRALIA
      • FIJI
      • KIRIBATI
      • NAURU
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
      • SAMOA
      • SOLOMON ISLANDS
      • TONGA
      • TUVALU
      • VANUATU
  • AREAS OF WORK
    • GOVERNMENT
    • EDUCATION
    • HEALTH
    • ICT
    • INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
    • NATURAL RESOURCES
    • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
  • OUR PUBLICATIONS
    • CHOGM
      • COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT 2020
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2018 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2015 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2011 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2009 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2007 REPORT
    • HEALTH
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2022
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2020
    • EDUCATION
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2023
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2021
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2019
    • MINISTERS
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2017
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2015
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2014
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2011
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2007
    • FINANCE
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REPORT 2012
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2007
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
      • AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT REPORT 2013
    • QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: 90 GLORIOUS YEARS
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT US
Commonwealth Business Communications
Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • COUNTRIES
    • AFRICA
      • BOTSWANA
      • CAMEROON
      • GAMBIA
      • GHANA
      • KENYA
      • KINGDOM OF eSWATINI
      • LESOTHO
      • MALAWI
      • MAURITIUS
      • MOZAMBIQUE
      • NAMIBIA
      • NIGERIA
      • RWANDA
      • SEYCHELLES
      • SIERRA LEONE
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • TANZANIA
      • UGANDA
      • ZAMBIA
    • ASIA
      • BANGLADESH
      • BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
      • INDIA
      • MALAYSIA
      • MALDIVES
      • PAKISTAN
      • SINGAPORE
      • SRI LANKA
    • CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS
      • ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
      • BAHAMAS
      • BARBADOS
      • BELIZE
      • CANADA
      • DOMINICA
      • GRENADA
      • GUYANA
      • JAMAICA
      • SAINT LUCIA
      • ST KITTS AND NEVIS
      • ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
      • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
    • EUROPE
      • CYPRUS
      • MALTA
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • PACIFIC
      • AUSTRALIA
      • FIJI
      • KIRIBATI
      • NAURU
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
      • SAMOA
      • SOLOMON ISLANDS
      • TONGA
      • TUVALU
      • VANUATU
  • AREAS OF WORK
    • GOVERNMENT
    • EDUCATION
    • HEALTH
    • ICT
    • INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
    • NATURAL RESOURCES
    • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
  • OUR PUBLICATIONS
    • CHOGM
      • COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT 2020
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2018 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2015 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2011 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2009 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2007 REPORT
    • HEALTH
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2022
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2020
    • EDUCATION
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2023
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2021
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2019
    • MINISTERS
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2017
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2015
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2014
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2011
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2007
    • FINANCE
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REPORT 2012
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2007
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
      • AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT REPORT 2013
    • QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: 90 GLORIOUS YEARS
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT US

Commonwealth Citizens Face Unfair Treatment by Home Office

  • CBC News Team
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

The Commonwealth is under pressure to protect its citizens from discrimination and unfair treatment in the UK, as the Home Office seeks to deport those who unofficially emigrated into the country almost half a century ago

The Commonwealth is under pressure to protect its citizens from discrimination and unfair treatment in the UK, as the Home Office seeks to deport those who unofficially emigrated into the country almost half a century ago.

Undocumented Commonwealth citizens in the UK have been struggling to protect their livelihoods since Theresa May announced the introduction of a “hostile environment” for illegal immigrants in 2012, according to The Guardian.

Many of these Commonwealth citizens arrived in the UK as children many decades ago as their parents took on job opportunities.

They are a largely invisible group who have spent their lives in the UK believing they are British, but do not have the necessary papers to prove their right to remain in the country.

As a result of their unrecognised and unauthorised existence in the UK, they have lost jobs and been refused employment, emergency housing, benefits, and even NHS care.

In some extreme cases, as reported by The Guardian, people have been sent to immigration removal centres and prepared for deportation to their “home” country, which most have not visited since they left as children.

A few last-minute legal interventions have prevented removals for some and media coverage has ensured residency permits were granted instead.

To avoid deportation, some individuals have opted to live beneath the radar of the Home Office, which is accused of unfair and cruel treatment.

In many cases, Commonwealth citizens were drawn to emigrate to the UK over half a century ago as part of a recruitment appeal for workers in Britain.

These workers and their children have lived, worked, studied, paid taxes and fully integrated into the community, and most are shocked to discover they are not recognised as British citizens but classed as illegal immigrants.

Immigrants from countries such as Barbados, once it became independent in 1966, were required to naturalise if they wanted to remain living in the UK, but many were not aware of this.

Some Commonwealth citizens have a legal right to stay in the UK because the 1971 Immigration Act gives those already settled in Britain indefinite leave to remain.

It can be a struggle, however, to gather enough documents to prove arrival dates before the cut-off point and subsequent settled status, and to access legal aid.

Jamaican High Commissioner Seth George Ramocan believes a lot of people have been affected by the difficult situation.

Quoted in The Guardian, he said: “We don’t know how many there are, primarily because they are unaware of their status, or lack of it.

“Most believe that they are OK, that they are British.

“People are thrown into crisis when they find out.

“When you are in this situation you cannot get a job, healthcare, a place to live – it locks you out of the system.”

Read More: The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, shares her vision and priorities for our diverse and dynamic family of nations

iStock-detention_centre.jpg

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
CBC News Team

Previous Article

Workshops on Trade and Development Held in Caribbean

  • CBC News Team
Read More
Next Article

Commonwealth Games Moves towards Equality

  • CBC News Team
Read More
You May Also Like
Commonwealth Youth finalists
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Regional finalists announced for the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2023

  • CBC News Team
  • 1 September 2023
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Celebrating Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day

  • slessorecbc
  • 31 August 2023
Commonwealth Youth Award Trophies - transparent trophies inscribed "The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work 2020"
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Commonwealth Youth Awards 2023 shortlists 50 outstanding young leaders

  • CBC News Team
  • 28 July 2023
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games | 4 – 11 August 2023

  • CBC News Team
  • 19 July 2023
Peter Obi lands surprise victory in Lagos
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Peter Obi lands surprise victory in Lagos

  • CBC News Team
  • 27 February 2023
New Zealand declares national emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle pummels the country
Read More
  • Uncategorized

New Zealand declares national emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle pummels the country

  • CBC News Team
  • 17 February 2023
Flag of Nauru
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Celebrating Nauru Independence Day

  • CBC News Team
  • 31 January 2023
Malta encourages bilingualism with new policy
Read More
  • Education & Youth
  • EDUCATION
  • MALTA
  • EUROPE
  • Uncategorized

Malta encourages bilingualism with new policy

  • CBC News Team
  • 12 January 2023
OUR LATEST PUBLICATION
Commonwealth Education Report 2023
EDUCATION 23

Subscribe to our Newsletter

PARTNER FOCUS
Recent Posts
  • HE Dr Madeleine Tchuinte, Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, and Mr Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, signed Cameroon’s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2024-2029. (Photo: J. O'Brien/ IAEA)
    Cameroon Signs its Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2024-2029
  • Manutius human rights webinar
    Commonwealth and Mauritian Government host webinar to help businesses protect human rights
  • Pakistan floods one year on
    One year on from catastrophic floods, millions of children in Pakistan still need urgent support
  • Ministry of Health Kenya WHO National Multi-Hazard Preparedness Plan Workshop
    Kenya: Ministry of Health partners with WHO to conclude National Multi-Hazard Preparedness Plan Workshop

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2022 Commonwealth Business Communications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.