Migrant Children's Project Newsletter
March 2020

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Covid-19, MCP and migrant children
 
With significant measures taken to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic now in force, there are a myriad of changes that will impact migrant children, whether they are separated/unaccompanied, in care, care leavers or living with family/others. Although some of our practices will change, the MCP will continue to promote the rights of refugee and migrant children, young people and families to ensure that they receive the protection and support they need. Our email advice line ([email protected]) is still open and we will be continuing to update our online guidance in light of the changes to various areas of law. Our policy, training and outreach work will also continue, although there will be some differences to reflect the current circumstances. We will contact you directly if this involves you or the organisation you work for. For general queries about our work, please contact [email protected]. 

Useful information on impact of Covid-19

There are a number of organisations providing advice and support on particular issues. We will place as many links on our website to useful information (and add more as time goes on) but here are some organisations that have produced information so far: Refugee Council and Right to Remain have updates on the impact of Covid-19 on asylum and immigration processes. Free Movement, an immigration law website, has useful legal information and links about the impact on leave to remain. For students and educational institutions, UKCISA has an information page on studying, student finance and sponsors. The Asylum Support Appeals Project has a fact sheet on Covid-19 and the impact on asylum support. NRPF Network has a fact sheet on Covid-19, looking in particular at local authority duties to NRPF families. ADCS has collated published guidance and announcements relating to children's services. Doctors of the World have guidance based on the government's updated advice and health information in 35 languages. 

Trafficking and modern slavery in the asylum process

In non-Covid-19 related news, there was a positive outcome in the long-running case of MS (Pakistan) v SSHD [2020] UKSC 9 at the Supreme Court. Following contrasting decisions in the lower courts, the Supreme Court held that immigration tribunal is not bound by a trafficking decision of the National Referral Mechanism, although it will normally be relevant to any determination made by the immigration tribunal. Secondly, the court also confirmed that appellants in these circumstances would have an appeal right on the basis that removal from the UK would breach Article 4 of the ECHR (prohibition of slavery and forced labour). ATLEU had represented the individual through the process, with EHRC, AIRE centre and ECPAT UK all intervening. ATLEU's more detailed case summary can be found here.