The Home Office is in hot water once again after a landmark high court ruling found that the home secretary acted unlawfully by failing to provide documents to thousands of migrants proving their legal status in the UK.
The charity Ramfel brought the legal challenge along with Cecilia Adjei, a healthcare worker and mother of two boys aged 17 and 11, who arrived in Britain from Ghana in 2000. The charity estimates that hundreds of thousands of migrants may be affected by the Home Office’s failure to provide confirmation documents for those applying to extend their visas, known as “3C leave.”
The lack of documentation has left many migrants in limbo, unable to prove their legal status and facing challenges accessing work, education, healthcare, and housing. The judge in the case, Mr. Justice Cavanagh, highlighted the real hardship faced by those on 3C leave and deemed the failure to provide digital proof of status unlawful.
Cecilia Adjei, whose life was disrupted while waiting for her visa extension, expressed relief at the ruling. She shared her struggles of being unable to work, budgeting carefully for her children, and even resorting to borrowing money and visiting a food bank due to the lack of proof of her immigration status.
Nick Beales, head of campaigning at Ramfel, criticized the government’s hostile environment policy and its impact on migrants with legal rights in the UK. The victory in this case is seen as a significant step towards protecting the rights of undocumented individuals who face challenges in accessing essential services.
The ruling has implications for others in similar situations and underscores the importance of providing adequate documentation to individuals lawfully residing in the UK. The Home Office has been called upon to address these issues and prevent further hardships for those waiting for their visa applications to be processed.
