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| Children hit by UK’s hostile environment | Children hit by UK’s hostile environment |
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| In 1992 the John Major government signed up to the 54 articles that constitute the UN convention on the rights of the child. 26 years later hundreds of vulnerable children as young as 10, who have spent most of their lives in Britain, are having their applications for British citizenship denied for failing to pass the government’s controversial “good character” test (Report, 22 September). The majority of these children are black. Meanwhile, Windrush tragedies are still being reported and more will follow. | In 1992 the John Major government signed up to the 54 articles that constitute the UN convention on the rights of the child. 26 years later hundreds of vulnerable children as young as 10, who have spent most of their lives in Britain, are having their applications for British citizenship denied for failing to pass the government’s controversial “good character” test (Report, 22 September). The majority of these children are black. Meanwhile, Windrush tragedies are still being reported and more will follow. |
| For these “bad character” children, the Home Office has been advised by the chief inspector of borders and immigration “to exercise discretion”. Discretion has never been a conspicuous feature of the Home Office, and certainly not since 2010, when Theresa May became home secretary. As for humanitarian “features”, these appear to be forbidden at the Home Office. Nothing good can come of treating children in this way. Bruce Ross-SmithOxford | For these “bad character” children, the Home Office has been advised by the chief inspector of borders and immigration “to exercise discretion”. Discretion has never been a conspicuous feature of the Home Office, and certainly not since 2010, when Theresa May became home secretary. As for humanitarian “features”, these appear to be forbidden at the Home Office. Nothing good can come of treating children in this way. Bruce Ross-SmithOxford |
| • Picture this. You are renewing your five-year-old child’s passport. Weeks later you receive a letter refusing to give you her passport until original documents are provided, which include her mother’s and her grandmother’s passport. You and your wife are both British, born in Britain (as was your child). | • Picture this. You are renewing your five-year-old child’s passport. Weeks later you receive a letter refusing to give you her passport until original documents are provided, which include her mother’s and her grandmother’s passport. You and your wife are both British, born in Britain (as was your child). |
| But granny, also British, was born in a British colony (Sarawak). She cannot find the certificate. When you explain, the passport officer is adamant. You have to provide this evidence to “re-establish” her nationality. In other words, the Home Office appears to be prepared to make your child stateless, contravening the declaration of the rights of the child. | But granny, also British, was born in a British colony (Sarawak). She cannot find the certificate. When you explain, the passport officer is adamant. You have to provide this evidence to “re-establish” her nationality. In other words, the Home Office appears to be prepared to make your child stateless, contravening the declaration of the rights of the child. |
| I am the granny. I have lived and worked in the UK as an NHS doctor since I qualified 40 years ago. Fortunately I found my birth certificate and my granddaughter got her passport. But what if I hadn’t? Would I have received a threatening letter from the Home Office? | I am the granny. I have lived and worked in the UK as an NHS doctor since I qualified 40 years ago. Fortunately I found my birth certificate and my granddaughter got her passport. But what if I hadn’t? Would I have received a threatening letter from the Home Office? |
| When I made a complaint, I was told that the HMPO officers were following “policy and procedure”, which they refuse to reveal. Perhaps the time has come for us all to see these? For none of us are safe in today’s hostile environment. Not even our British children. Windrush is not over.Dr Paquita de ZuluetaLondon | When I made a complaint, I was told that the HMPO officers were following “policy and procedure”, which they refuse to reveal. Perhaps the time has come for us all to see these? For none of us are safe in today’s hostile environment. Not even our British children. Windrush is not over.Dr Paquita de ZuluetaLondon |
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| Immigration and asylum | Immigration and asylum |
| Windrush scandal | Windrush scandal |
| Commonwealth immigration | Commonwealth immigration |
| Race | Race |
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| Children | Children |
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