Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Our Policy Officer Rivka appeared on Talk to remind listeners that there are human beings impacted by this barrage of hostility.

Nobody wants to be reliant on the Home Office for support. It doesn't have to be this way. The solution is to make better, faster decisions so that people are not stuck in application and appeals backlogs, and to allow them to get on with their lives.

This week the Home Secretary chased headlines every day with new and old attacks on people seeking safety. Many of the policies she announced already exist - for example, people already have to prove they have no other way of supporting themselves to access the inadequate asylum support system.

People who are stuck waiting in the asylum system tell us that they are waking up in fear because of the barrage of hostility they face from this government. They say the state of constant fear is working directly against their ability to contribute and build a life here.

UK puts emergency brake on study visas for four countries’ nationals Shabana Mahmood says UK’s generosity abused as study visas halted for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan

When you close safer pathways, you don’t make desperation disappear, you just reroute it, meaning more people will be forced into taking dangerous journeys to save their lives.

Singling out these countries, knowing so many people have already been displaced due to conflict, is especially cruel.

'Where is the justice? This situation is a killer to human life' After finally getting his British citizenship after 48 years, 'local legend' Nelson Shardey criticised the government

We're so pleased for Nelson and his family that he was finally granted British Citizen after a very long and challenging journey to reach this point.

Nelson spoke out about what the Govts proposed 'earned settlement' changes will mean for others, saying that they will be 'a killer to human life.' 👇

We know that this news has caused great anxiety. Please remember that attempts to weaken refugee protection will always be challenged by us at GMIAU and many others, through research, campaigns and legal challenges.

We are always on your side.

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Information – today’s asylum changes - GMIAU GMIAU information and advice on changes to asylum and refugee protection announced by the Home Secretary, 2nd March 2026.

📄NEW: Today, the Home Secretary has announced that from now on, refugees who apply for and are granted asylum in the UK will be given 2.5 years’ temporary refugee status.

While there are still many unanswered questions, we have shared what we know so far, and what we think about it in a blog post:

Refugee status to be temporary as Shabana Mahmood rips up rules on UK asylum Home secretary announces 30-month protection limit, with refugees required to leave if their home countries are later judged safe

Today is a dark day for anyone who believes in sanctuary in the UK.

People who've fled war and torture should be able to rebuild their lives in peace and security - not live under a constant threat of removal.

We must not stop fighting these appalling anti-refugee laws.

3/ We know from the results of last week's by-election that voters will reject anti-refugee policy and Reform-style rhetoric. But yet, the govt have failed to learn the lesson that performative cruelty neither reduces the number of people who need our help, nor appeases those who are fueled by hate.

2/ We know what impact this kind of insecurity has on people: on their sense of belonging, their ability to fully feel part of communities, their finances, and on the stability of their housing and employment.

Imposing this on people seeking safety will benefit no one in our communities.

Refugee status to be temporary as Shabana Mahmood rips up rules on UK asylum Home secretary announces 30-month protection limit, with refugees required to leave if their home countries are later judged safe

🧵This is the biggest attack on the rights of recognised refugees in recent memory & is reminiscent of the worst failed policies of the disastrous last govt.

People seeking safety need security in order to start over, but this govt seems to want to forget that there are people at the centre of this.

This is such great news.
Immigration casework and advocacy at its finest. 💪 💪

👏👏👏
Fantastic work, @gmiau.bsky.social.
And we're so happy for the local legend, Nelson.
Manchester has shown the best of the UK these past 24 hours, with real people caring for and supporting one another and rejecting hate and division.

Our research in @theguardian.com/ Latest Home Office stats show radical drop in nurses, therapists, scientists, educational professionals and skilled tradespeople coming to work in the UK. There are real costs to the government's narrow focus on reducing numbers. Time to change focus.

"Some may never reach this milestone at all.

Nelson’s story tells the importance of achieving settlement and citizenship, and the precarious reality of living with limited leave to remain.”

(Photos: Andrew Teebay, Liverpool Echo)

Nicola, Nelson’s lawyer, said: "I am thrilled that Nelson is finally a British Citizen.

“If the Government’s earned settlement proposals become law, many more people could face journeys just as long or even longer to be legally settled in the country they call home."

"After living in the UK for so many years and doing everything possible to contribute to the community, going through such a long process has been incredibly difficult. Extending it further feels unnecessarily harsh."

People who have overstayed a visa, like Nelson, may be punished with routes to settlement as long as 30 years. Nelson called these changes “deeply unfair”.
“People should be treated with dignity, and approaches like this don’t help resolve the issues at hand."

His story is a reminder of the importance of secure immigration status at a time when settlement is under attack. Under the government’s plans, the harsh 10-year route Nelson faced will be extended to nearly everyone on a visa in the UK.

Nelson’s story went viral, and donations to his GoFundMe campaign came to over £47,000, which was donated to local charities after the Home Office backed down and granted him ILR.

When Nelson was told he had to wait 10 years to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), he had lived in the UK for over four decades, running a business, raising a family and becoming a beloved community member.

Nelson said: “Standing here today with my family and friends, backed by our community, has been a joy. I feel nothing but pride for the place I call home. While the journey hasn’t been easy and has tested us, I am delighted that this story ends not in frustration, but in belonging.”

Standing here today with my family and friends, backed by our community, has been a joy. I feel nothing but pride for the place I call home. While the journey hasn’t been easy and has tested us, I am delighted that this story ends not in frustration, but in belonging. Nelson Shardey

Nelson’s lawyer Nicola said: I am thrilled that Nelson is finally a British Citizen. For someone who has lived in the UK for so long, and has been at the heart of his local community, the near 50-year journey to secure this legal recognition has been far too long. If the Government’s earned settlement proposals become law, many more people could face journeys just as long or even longer to be legally settled in the country they call home. Some may never reach this milestone at all. Nelson’s story tells the importance of achieving settlement and citizenship, and the precarious reality of living with limited leave to remain. Placing more people on extended routes to settlement would be entirely disproportionate and unfair."

NEWS: Yesterday, Nelson Shardey was granted British citizenship following a ceremony at Wallasey Town Hall. A local legend, Nelson has been in the UK for 49 years, since 1977. He hit headlines in 2024 when, represented by GMIAU, he legally challenged the Home Office.

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the asylum process for separated children RSMP north west have faciliated this training on the asylum process for seperated asylum seeking children, delviered by GMIAU.

We are offering training through the RSMP to local authorities supporting separated children seeking asylum in the UK.

The training will explore the asylum process for children, supporting children when newly arrived, age assessments, refusals, appeals and human rights assessments

Sign up here👇

UK suspension of refugee family reunion scheme to be challenged in high court Judge allows Safe Passage International to launch judicial review of halting of right to bring in children and partners

The news that this route would be suspended ahead of harsher eligibility criteria being applied was a devastating blow to refugee rights in the UK.

'UK suspension of refugee family reunion scheme to be challenged in high court' @safepassageintl.bsky.social 👏

This morning, February 25th, we were horrified to hear the news that last night (24th February) Manchester Central Mosque was targeted by an attempted attack. Two man had entered the mosque carrying weapons including an axe and a knife during Ramadan prayers. Thankfully, they were stopped and no one was hurt. We know this news is especially frightening for our Muslim colleagues, friends and neighbours who should be able to worship in peace during the holy month of Ramadan and always. Instead they feel exposed and at risk. This is sadly not an isolated incident but one part of a rise in anti-Muslim racism. Only a few days ago the far-right group Britain First organised a racist march through Manchester City Centre, leaving people of colour feeling unsafe and under attack. Their violence and hatred is always anti-migration and has always been directed at Muslims in particular. It is clear that racists are feeling emboldened at the moment, partly because of the rhetoric used by some politicians and amplified by the media. Everyone must feel safe to gather and worship, and nobody should be threatened because of their religion or the colour of their skin or their immigration status. We as a community must come together to stand against hatred and keep each other safe where the state is failing us. GMIAU stands in solidarity with our Muslim communities today and always.

A message of solidarity from us following the targeting of Manchester Central Mosque.

Everyone must feel safe to gather and worship, and nobody should be threatened because of their religion or the colour of their skin or their immigration status.

💚

Hello, yes we are still able to help with your Windrush compensation claim if you are in London. Sorry you have not had a reply. Please can you email me your details and I will make sure to pass them on. Please email: annie@gmiau.org

Thank you :)

This is not a problem of one political party. Reform's abhorrent plan would destroy lives and communities - but so do the hostile policies promoted over recent years by Governments of all stripes.
Our Government must defend migration & sanctuary, not give in to these extremists.