🚨 Heads up, international students in the UK! 🚨
The Government’s rolling out a new text and email campaign to remind students to leave the UK once their visas expire. 📩📱 In a bid to reduce asylum claims from students, these messages highlight the importance of returning home if you have no legal right to stay.
According to reports, these messages will come with a stark warning: asylum claims lacking merit will be swiftly refused, and any asylum support requested will be closely scrutinised. If you don’t have the right to remain, you’ll need to head home, or face removal. 🛫
This move ties into the broader efforts to address migration, with the Home Office also prepping the first returns of migrants crossing the Channel. Last month, a deal was signed with France for a “one in, one out” pilot scheme allowing the UK to return migrants who crossed the Channel.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been busy in Parliament this week, announcing the suspension of applications for the refugee family reunion route. Reforms are on the way, with new rules set to be introduced by spring. 📜
Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer has also weighed in, expressing a desire to free up asylum hotels following public concerns. With the spotlight on locations like The Bell Hotel in Essex, which recently saw protests after an asylum-related incident, the pressure is on the Government to find solutions.
Plans are in place to move current hotel residents by the end of Parliament, though the PM aims to speed this up. 🏨
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation evolves!