"Removal specialists are reporting more people wanting tiny tattoos erased." — BBC News

"Incoming PM must seize chance to stop race discourse deflecting from class inequalities, says David WeaverAndy Burnham has a historic opportunity to shift the national mood on racism, the chair of Operation Black Vote has said.In an interview marking the 30th anniversary of the…" — The Guardian

"The jury in the trial of an Afghan refugee charged with attempting to murder a 14-year-old boy in a knife rampage have failed to reach a verdict." — Sky News

UKVI updated Vietnam TB test clinic guidance (17 Jul 2026): VND exchange rates removed from fees due to fluctuations. Page covers TB testing for UK applicants staying 6+ months, including family visas, fiancé(e)s, and returning residents absent 2+ years.

Home Office updated VTS caseworker guidance on 17 July 2026 following a legal judgment. The 'Reconsideration cohorts' policy on removal to ECAT/ECHR countries is no longer applied. 'Reconsideration process' and 'Requesting extension' sections will be applied case-by-case.

"Andy Burnham will become Labour Party leader today ahead of entering Downing Street on Monday after Keir Starmer announced he was stepping down" — The Mirror

"An Albanian national has absconded from an immigration removal centre, the Home Office has confirmed." — Sky News

"ABOUT THE ROLE WorkPermitCloud is a UK immigration advisory specialising in sponsor licences, Skilled Worker visas, and Home Office compliance for employers. We’re hiring an experienced SPL/CoS Specialist to own end-to-end case preparation for our clients. This isn’t an…" — Free Movement

"Making a mistake on an immigration application form can be disastrous. If the mistake is interpreted by officials as an attempt to mislead or deceive, the application may be refused and can also lead to a ten-year ban on re-entry to the UK. Following a Court of Appeal decision…" — Free Movement

UKVI has updated its Ethiopia TB test clinic guidance (last updated 16 July 2026), with revised contact details for the American Medical Center. TB testing required for applicants coming to the UK for 6+ months from Ethiopia, including family visa fiancé(e)s and returning residents away 2+ years.

"The migrant deal is intended to curb English Channel crossings" — The Independent

"The IAA is procuring an assessment provider, and advisers may experience some disruption during the transition." — Immigration Advice Authority

UKVI updated the Employer's Guide to Right to Work Checks on 16 July 2026 (PDF, 72 pages). No specific changes are detailed beyond "The guidance has been updated." The Welsh translation is still being updated. Previous June 2025 version remains available.

"The High Court has upheld the lawfulness of the Home Office policy on good character in naturalisation applications, in a challenge brought by a refugee who originally entered the UK irregularly. The case is R (on the application of Ahmed Alibiari) v SSHD [2026] EWHC 1623…" — Free Movement

Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection) caseworker guidance updated 16 July 2026 to provide guidance on issuing a Form for Accompanying an eVisa (FAV).

"Aviation enthusiast and reporter Zach Griff used flight schedule data to map out the busiest times at border control in Schengen airports" — The i

"Bol Chuol was filmed by drones throwing his coat into the sea and moving down the boat to avoid detection as the pilot" — The Independent

"The High Court has upheld the lawfulness of the Home Office policy on good character in naturalisation applications, in a challenge brought by a refugee who originally entered the UK irregularly. The case is R (on the application of Ahmed Alibiari) v SSHD [2026] EWHC 1623…" — Free Movement

"Immigration Solicitor £53,110 per annum, plus £7,170 London Weighting allowance UNISON Centre, Euston, London Legal Services Team Full time, Permanent Job reference: ORD/186 UNISON Legal Services conducts strategically important and often ground-breaking litigation on behalf of…" — Free Movement

"The government says it is working to close hotels used to house people waiting for their asylum claims to be processed, at a cost of millions of pounds." — Channel 4 News

"The protest took place after the murder of student Henry Nowak in Southampton" — The Independent

"UK-born Quoroum Beg was actually filming an anti-immigration demonstration which had earlier forced him and his children to leave a Glasgow park." — BBC News

"Two asylum seekers have been given lengthy prison sentences for repeatedly raping a woman on Brighton beach, while a third who filmed the attack has also been jailed." — Sky News

"Spain and Gibraltar are celebrating the removal of a border checkpoint following a historic treaty between the EU and the UK." — Sky News

Guinean national arrived as unaccompanied minor in 2007, convicted of drug supply offences. Court of Appeal upheld finding of social and cultural integration with very significant obstacles to reintegration, preserving Article 8 private life deportation appeal.

"Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: The EU I fell in love with now enables Marine Le Pen and cruel immigration policies" — The i

"Exclusive: Lewisham council’s move marks first step in Greens’ plan to create a corridor of sanctuary boroughs across LondonA Green-led London council is planning to ban its officials from working with the Home Office on immigration raids, after uncovering evidence suggesting…" — The Guardian

"UK Casework Lead Refugee Legal Support London, Greater London (Hybrid) circa £50,000 per year Full-time Permanent Overview of role The UK Casework Lead is responsible both for a personal caseload and for the supervision, output, quality and revenue performance of RLS’s UK legal…" — Free Movement

"International care workers play an integral role in the UK’s social care sector. For a time, health and care worker visa applications vastly outweighed skilled worker visa applications, reaching a peak in mid-2023. The number of health and care worker visa applications has since…" — Free Movement

"Welcome to the weekly Free Movement newsletter! Last week, the Home Secretary gave evidence to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee, defending the earned settlement proposals against criticism that people with indefinite leave would be making net positive economic…" — Free Movement

"The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the Home Secretary in a deportation case, overturning an earlier decision in favour of a serious criminal facing removal to Dominica. This is the case of Secretary of State for the Home Department v Collins Cuthbert Lewis [2026] EWCA…" — Free Movement

"Court ruled last week against policy to reduce protections for asylum seekers facing removal under one in, one out schemeThe Home Office is set to ignore a high court ruling and continue sending asylum seekers to France without looking into claims they have been trafficked, which…" — The Guardian

"Our new guidance document brings essential information and practical advice together in one easy-to-access resource." — Immigration Advice Authority

"This guidance document is designed to help both current and aspiring advisers access key information on registration, regulation and professional standards." — Immigration Advice Authority

"Agreement will also enable British travellers to use automated passport gates at Swiss airports" — Financial Times

"Female migrants at the centre have been unable to get around without a staff escort, a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons said" — The Independent

"Prime minister-in-waiting votes for plans to tighten appeals system as 14 Labour MPs oppose measuresAndy Burnham has backed the government’s controversial asylum changes, voting for legislation that has divided Labour MPs over plans to tighten the immigration system and reshape…" — The Guardian

"It’s sparking some interesting conversationsSee more of Fiona Katauskas’s cartoons here Continue reading..." — The Guardian

"Legal challenges launched over accommodation ‘adequacy’ as UK government closes more asylum hotelsHuda and her two children aged 10 and 12 had been living in two rooms in a London hotel for six months when they were told with just a few days’ notice they would be moved. The…" — The Guardian

"The Upper Tribunal has considered the use of deception, fraud and false evidence in 12 judicial review claims, purportedly brought by 27 different applicants. The claims each related to the refusal of visitor visa applications from individuals from Pakistan. None of the…" — Free Movement

"The Makerfield MP backs Home Secretary's crackdown settlement rights for migrants as nearly 80 MPs privately urge him to reconsider reforms" — The i

"Suspended Labour veteran MP Diane Abbott called on Shabana Mahmood to reconsider proposals in the Immigration and Asylum Bill" — The Mirror

Immigration and Asylum Bill second reading (13 July 2026) includes asylum repayment obligations, modern slavery protections, removal of 30-day support for unfounded claims, late disclosure credibility rules, capped sponsored refugee routes, and public order exclusions from slavery protections.

"Grooming gang victims have been treated appallingly and are rightly angry. But the loss of confidence in the criminal justice system goes widerThe home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is not personally responsible for the mess that the government finds itself in with regard to the…" — The Guardian

"Success against antisemitism in the UK will be achieved when schools and synagogues don’t need police protection. Let’s build bridges between communitiesWhen arsonists attacked Finchley Reform Synagogue earlier this year, the physical damage was mercifully limited. The fear…" — The Guardian

Eritrean national removed to France under the dangerous journeys treaty challenged inadmissibility, trafficking, and certification decisions. Court found all decisions lawful with no procedural unfairness, rational credibility assessment, or misdirection. All grounds dismissed.

"Home secretary also expected to outline plans to enable deportation of Shabir Ahmed, grooming gang ringleaderUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham is expected to vote for the immigration bill on Monday night in the Commons, with his team indicating that he backs Shabana…" — The Guardian

"An Afghan migrant admitted the "frenzied" killing of a man as well as stabbing his landlord and a teenage boy while in a "psychotic state", a court has heard." — Sky News

Home Office announces £25m to expand Independent Child Trafficking Guardians service to all local authorities in England and Wales. Barnardo's awarded 4-year contract, extending coverage from 160 to 339 local authorities. Relevant for practitioners advising child NRM referrals.

"Cather Atkinson hinted that the Home Office may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it agrees to accept Shabir AhmedGood morning. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, will be in the Commons for much of the afternoon and she is involved in several of the main news…" — The Guardian