Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
@gmiau.bsky.social
We provide high-quality legal representation, support and hope to people experiencing immigration injustice across the North-West of England.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmiaunit/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gmiaunit
IAA registered: N201000004
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmiaunit/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gmiaunit
IAA registered: N201000004
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
🚨 We are deeply concerned by the announcement made this afternoon by the Home Secretary with regards to routes to settlement. Making people who have been granted refugee status wait for up to 20 years before they can settle indefinitely in this country is both cruel and counter-intuitive.
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November 20, 2025 at 4:54 PM
🚨 We are deeply concerned by the announcement made this afternoon by the Home Secretary with regards to routes to settlement. Making people who have been granted refugee status wait for up to 20 years before they can settle indefinitely in this country is both cruel and counter-intuitive.
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Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
New from Free Movement: Home Secretary opens consultation on “earned settlement” | Sonia Lenegan
Home Secretary opens consultation on "earned settlement" - Free Movement
The consultation document is called “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: A statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement”. The consultation is open
freemovement.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
New from Free Movement: Home Secretary opens consultation on “earned settlement” | Sonia Lenegan
The government have revealed their plans for so-called "earned settlement". Their proposal is of a labyrinthine and draconian system that doubles, triples or quadruples routes to settlement, and embeds discrimination. We must stand against these plans.
freemovement.org.uk/home-secreta...
freemovement.org.uk/home-secreta...
Home Secretary opens consultation on "earned settlement" - Free Movement
The consultation document is called “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: A statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement”. The consultation is open
freemovement.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The government have revealed their plans for so-called "earned settlement". Their proposal is of a labyrinthine and draconian system that doubles, triples or quadruples routes to settlement, and embeds discrimination. We must stand against these plans.
freemovement.org.uk/home-secreta...
freemovement.org.uk/home-secreta...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
Find out more about exactly why these changes are a very bad idea in our joint briefing with @gmiau.bsky.social: www.praxis.org.uk/briefings/pr...
Proposed changes to settlement and citizenship pathways - Joint Briefing — Praxis
This briefing outlines the likely impact of changes to settlement and citizenship routes proposed by the Government, prepared by Praxis and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit , who provide im...
www.praxis.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Find out more about exactly why these changes are a very bad idea in our joint briefing with @gmiau.bsky.social: www.praxis.org.uk/briefings/pr...
Yesterday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a new set of hostile policy changes that will undermine the security and wellbeing of people seeking safety in the UK.
🔗 We have published a blog explainer about the changes, what this means in practice, their impact, and what we think:
🔗 We have published a blog explainer about the changes, what this means in practice, their impact, and what we think:
Changes to the UK asylum system: What we know so far - GMIAU
The Home Secretary announced changes to the UK asylum system in a paper called "Restoring Order and Control".
gmiau.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Yesterday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a new set of hostile policy changes that will undermine the security and wellbeing of people seeking safety in the UK.
🔗 We have published a blog explainer about the changes, what this means in practice, their impact, and what we think:
🔗 We have published a blog explainer about the changes, what this means in practice, their impact, and what we think:
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
Shabana Mahmood is wrong - Another cowardly attack on immigrants does not hide the incompetence of the Starmer government.
Me, for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Me, for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Shabana Mahmood is wrong
Another cowardly attack on immigrants does not hide the incompetence of the Starmer government
www.newstatesman.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Shabana Mahmood is wrong - Another cowardly attack on immigrants does not hide the incompetence of the Starmer government.
Me, for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Me, for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
"The Government's proposals are “a re-run of the worst and failed policies of the last [Conservative] government – to appease those people asking for more and more hate.” - Rivka, Communications Manager and Policy Officer @ GMIAU.
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by home secretary’s asylum seeker comments
Bishop of Edmonton says people coming to UK are being ‘scapegoated’ for years of policy failures
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
"The Government's proposals are “a re-run of the worst and failed policies of the last [Conservative] government – to appease those people asking for more and more hate.” - Rivka, Communications Manager and Policy Officer @ GMIAU.
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Today, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares to announce the latest attack on refugee rights in the UK.
A host of hostile policy changes have already been announced. We don’t yet have the full details, but we’ll keep you updated as more becomes clear.
⬇️Here’s what we know + think so far:
A host of hostile policy changes have already been announced. We don’t yet have the full details, but we’ll keep you updated as more becomes clear.
⬇️Here’s what we know + think so far:
Starmer braced for backlash from Labour MPs as Mahmood sets out asylum plans – UK politics live
Home secretary to announce a drastic tightening of rules, including requiring asylum seekers to wait 20 years before getting the right to permanently settle in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Today, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares to announce the latest attack on refugee rights in the UK.
A host of hostile policy changes have already been announced. We don’t yet have the full details, but we’ll keep you updated as more becomes clear.
⬇️Here’s what we know + think so far:
A host of hostile policy changes have already been announced. We don’t yet have the full details, but we’ll keep you updated as more becomes clear.
⬇️Here’s what we know + think so far:
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
A useful resource here from @gmiau.bsky.social for anyone anyone having 'difficult conversations' about migration.
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group: Our response to the protests outside hotels - GMIAU
Statement from a group in Manchester who have lived experience of living in asylum accommodation responding to the racist far-right protests
gmiau.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:15 AM
A useful resource here from @gmiau.bsky.social for anyone anyone having 'difficult conversations' about migration.
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
Last week's MDF partnership event was energising!✊🏽⚡️
We heard from...
Connect Talent, our new Salford based referral partner, who shared their great work in GM.
@gmiau.bsky.social shared what's known so far about changes to routes to settlement & what's being done to fight back.
We heard from...
Connect Talent, our new Salford based referral partner, who shared their great work in GM.
@gmiau.bsky.social shared what's known so far about changes to routes to settlement & what's being done to fight back.
November 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Last week's MDF partnership event was energising!✊🏽⚡️
We heard from...
Connect Talent, our new Salford based referral partner, who shared their great work in GM.
@gmiau.bsky.social shared what's known so far about changes to routes to settlement & what's being done to fight back.
We heard from...
Connect Talent, our new Salford based referral partner, who shared their great work in GM.
@gmiau.bsky.social shared what's known so far about changes to routes to settlement & what's being done to fight back.
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
🚨🚨🚨
Our new report on hotel accommodation drops today.
These hotels are not 5*. Here's the proof.
Relying on testimony from clients, photos & medical evidence, you can now see the awful reality of hotel life.
More updates throughout the day so watch this space.
www.ramfel.org.uk/asylum-hotel...
Our new report on hotel accommodation drops today.
These hotels are not 5*. Here's the proof.
Relying on testimony from clients, photos & medical evidence, you can now see the awful reality of hotel life.
More updates throughout the day so watch this space.
www.ramfel.org.uk/asylum-hotel...
Asylum Hotels Report
Our new report, Profiting from People: Inside the UK’s Asylum Hotels , exposes the true horrors that refugees face whilst housed for years on end in asylum hotels. We’ve long known this, and now...
www.ramfel.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:52 AM
🚨🚨🚨
Our new report on hotel accommodation drops today.
These hotels are not 5*. Here's the proof.
Relying on testimony from clients, photos & medical evidence, you can now see the awful reality of hotel life.
More updates throughout the day so watch this space.
www.ramfel.org.uk/asylum-hotel...
Our new report on hotel accommodation drops today.
These hotels are not 5*. Here's the proof.
Relying on testimony from clients, photos & medical evidence, you can now see the awful reality of hotel life.
More updates throughout the day so watch this space.
www.ramfel.org.uk/asylum-hotel...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
Come and join our team as our Duty Scheme Legal Officer (maternity cover). You'll provide crucial support to our legal representation service, helping people seeking asylum in the UK avoid homelessness and destitution. www.asaproject.org/about/jobs-v...
November 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Come and join our team as our Duty Scheme Legal Officer (maternity cover). You'll provide crucial support to our legal representation service, helping people seeking asylum in the UK avoid homelessness and destitution. www.asaproject.org/about/jobs-v...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
Adopting a Denmark-style immigration model is a dangerous new low from our Government. Pushing temporary status, harsher family reunion rules and “parallel society” labels throws basic rights under the bus in a bid to win cheap votes.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK to announce plans to emulate stringent Danish immigration system
Shabana Mahmood’s proposals draw scorn from some Labour MPs, while others want government to go further
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Adopting a Denmark-style immigration model is a dangerous new low from our Government. Pushing temporary status, harsher family reunion rules and “parallel society” labels throws basic rights under the bus in a bid to win cheap votes.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
A WIN BUT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER... (THREAD) 🤝 (1)
5 weeks ago, Arjeta, loved member of her Liverpool community, was detained by the Home Office, despite being recognised as a survivor of trafficking and modern slavery. She was due to be removed to Albania yesterday, where she fears for her life...
5 weeks ago, Arjeta, loved member of her Liverpool community, was detained by the Home Office, despite being recognised as a survivor of trafficking and modern slavery. She was due to be removed to Albania yesterday, where she fears for her life...
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www.pressreader.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
A WIN BUT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER... (THREAD) 🤝 (1)
5 weeks ago, Arjeta, loved member of her Liverpool community, was detained by the Home Office, despite being recognised as a survivor of trafficking and modern slavery. She was due to be removed to Albania yesterday, where she fears for her life...
5 weeks ago, Arjeta, loved member of her Liverpool community, was detained by the Home Office, despite being recognised as a survivor of trafficking and modern slavery. She was due to be removed to Albania yesterday, where she fears for her life...
We're honoured to have been awarded 'Frontline Agency of the Year' at the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards 2025🎉.
This award recognises our eVisa support sessions, delivered as part of a pro bono initiative in partnership with Dechert LLP, Linklaters, Clyde & Co, and Squire Patton Boggs.
This award recognises our eVisa support sessions, delivered as part of a pro bono initiative in partnership with Dechert LLP, Linklaters, Clyde & Co, and Squire Patton Boggs.
November 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
We're honoured to have been awarded 'Frontline Agency of the Year' at the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards 2025🎉.
This award recognises our eVisa support sessions, delivered as part of a pro bono initiative in partnership with Dechert LLP, Linklaters, Clyde & Co, and Squire Patton Boggs.
This award recognises our eVisa support sessions, delivered as part of a pro bono initiative in partnership with Dechert LLP, Linklaters, Clyde & Co, and Squire Patton Boggs.
📣MDF are looking for a Lived Experience Project Worker to join them and help embed lived experience into their work and other MACC projects.
This is a brilliant opportunity to be part of the amazing work done by MDF. Applications close on 19 November.
migrantdestitution.co.uk/ruthrose-vis...
This is a brilliant opportunity to be part of the amazing work done by MDF. Applications close on 19 November.
migrantdestitution.co.uk/ruthrose-vis...
Passionate about centering lived experience to advocate for change?
@mcrcommcentral.bsky.social
are recruiting for a Lived Experience Project Worker to embed lived experience in the work of the MDF & other collaborative projects supported by Macc.
Come and join us!
tinyurl.com/cusxbkfu
@mcrcommcentral.bsky.social
are recruiting for a Lived Experience Project Worker to embed lived experience in the work of the MDF & other collaborative projects supported by Macc.
Come and join us!
tinyurl.com/cusxbkfu
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
📣MDF are looking for a Lived Experience Project Worker to join them and help embed lived experience into their work and other MACC projects.
This is a brilliant opportunity to be part of the amazing work done by MDF. Applications close on 19 November.
migrantdestitution.co.uk/ruthrose-vis...
This is a brilliant opportunity to be part of the amazing work done by MDF. Applications close on 19 November.
migrantdestitution.co.uk/ruthrose-vis...
The UK Government count applications, decisions, and removals.
But they don’t count the human cost of a system that forces people into danger to seek safety.
A humane asylum system would protect lives, not end them.
#KnowTheirNames
But they don’t count the human cost of a system that forces people into danger to seek safety.
A humane asylum system would protect lives, not end them.
#KnowTheirNames
While headlines focus on how many people claim asylum in the UK, there's one number that's not even officially counted:
The number of people who die while trying to seek sanctuary here.
We know our policies kill people. Their deaths must not be ignored.
#KnowTheirNames
The number of people who die while trying to seek sanctuary here.
We know our policies kill people. Their deaths must not be ignored.
#KnowTheirNames
November 7, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The UK Government count applications, decisions, and removals.
But they don’t count the human cost of a system that forces people into danger to seek safety.
A humane asylum system would protect lives, not end them.
#KnowTheirNames
But they don’t count the human cost of a system that forces people into danger to seek safety.
A humane asylum system would protect lives, not end them.
#KnowTheirNames
We’re proud to share that the Windrush Legal Initiative has been shortlisted for “Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership” at the LawWorks Awards 2025!⭐
Since 2022, we have led the Initiative in partnership with 8 law firms, providing legal support to people navigating the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Since 2022, we have led the Initiative in partnership with 8 law firms, providing legal support to people navigating the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Windrush Legal Initiative: how to get free help to apply under the Windrush Compensation Scheme - GMIAU
Get in touch with GMIAU for free legal support to apply for the Windrush Compensation Scheme through the Windrush Legal Initiative.
gmiau.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
We’re proud to share that the Windrush Legal Initiative has been shortlisted for “Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership” at the LawWorks Awards 2025!⭐
Since 2022, we have led the Initiative in partnership with 8 law firms, providing legal support to people navigating the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Since 2022, we have led the Initiative in partnership with 8 law firms, providing legal support to people navigating the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
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This #ProBonoWeek we want to thank all the brilliant pro bono lawyers who give their time and expertise to support people across GMIAU’s projects. Your commitment helps people navigate complex asylum and immigration systems and ensures that more people can access justice when they need it most.
This #ProBonoWeek we want to thank all the brilliant pro bono lawyers who give their time and expertise to support people across GMIAU’s projects. Your commitment helps people navigate complex asylum and immigration systems and ensures that more people can access justice when they need it most.
November 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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This #ProBonoWeek we want to thank all the brilliant pro bono lawyers who give their time and expertise to support people across GMIAU’s projects. Your commitment helps people navigate complex asylum and immigration systems and ensures that more people can access justice when they need it most.
This #ProBonoWeek we want to thank all the brilliant pro bono lawyers who give their time and expertise to support people across GMIAU’s projects. Your commitment helps people navigate complex asylum and immigration systems and ensures that more people can access justice when they need it most.
Following the publication of their statement, members of the Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group spoke to @manchestereveningnews.co.uk and bravely shared their personal stories of resilience, what led them to seek safety in the UK, and the challenges they have faced since arriving.
⭐Read more:
⭐Read more:
November 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Following the publication of their statement, members of the Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group spoke to @manchestereveningnews.co.uk and bravely shared their personal stories of resilience, what led them to seek safety in the UK, and the challenges they have faced since arriving.
⭐Read more:
⭐Read more:
A brilliantly written and incredibly relevant article from Julia - @asylummatters.bsky.social
'Human beings belong in communities, not camps' 👏
'Human beings belong in communities, not camps' 👏
Human being belong in communities, not camps. And our Government knows it. They said they'd shut the camps and stop wasting millions making people seeking sanctuary suffer - so why are they bringing this failed plan back now?
Why housing asylum seekers in military camps is an expensive mistake
Julia Savage, campaigns manager at Asylum Matters, writes about why housing asylum seekers in military barracks is wrong.
www.bigissue.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A brilliantly written and incredibly relevant article from Julia - @asylummatters.bsky.social
'Human beings belong in communities, not camps' 👏
'Human beings belong in communities, not camps' 👏
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
@bordercrim.bsky.social still looking for funding, please do send me any leads/ideas if you have any... I know it looks like the uni would cover us. but sadly it isn't quite that simple...
November 4, 2025 at 9:52 AM
@bordercrim.bsky.social still looking for funding, please do send me any leads/ideas if you have any... I know it looks like the uni would cover us. but sadly it isn't quite that simple...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
The government has shut down refugee family reunion — turning in effect a “temporary pause” into a permanent ban.
Cruel. Heartless. Inhumane. 🧵
reunitefamiliesuk.co.uk/over-60-orgs...
Cruel. Heartless. Inhumane. 🧵
reunitefamiliesuk.co.uk/over-60-orgs...
November 4, 2025 at 10:42 AM
The government has shut down refugee family reunion — turning in effect a “temporary pause” into a permanent ban.
Cruel. Heartless. Inhumane. 🧵
reunitefamiliesuk.co.uk/over-60-orgs...
Cruel. Heartless. Inhumane. 🧵
reunitefamiliesuk.co.uk/over-60-orgs...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
Join us
🏛️Manchester Central Library M2 5PD
📅Friday 7 November
🕛12-3pm
to discuss what sanctuary looks like for people fleeing persecution.
How can today's UK Cities of Sanctuary resist this growing hostile environment?
racearchive.org.uk/sanctuary-no...
🏛️Manchester Central Library M2 5PD
📅Friday 7 November
🕛12-3pm
to discuss what sanctuary looks like for people fleeing persecution.
How can today's UK Cities of Sanctuary resist this growing hostile environment?
racearchive.org.uk/sanctuary-no...
November 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Join us
🏛️Manchester Central Library M2 5PD
📅Friday 7 November
🕛12-3pm
to discuss what sanctuary looks like for people fleeing persecution.
How can today's UK Cities of Sanctuary resist this growing hostile environment?
racearchive.org.uk/sanctuary-no...
🏛️Manchester Central Library M2 5PD
📅Friday 7 November
🕛12-3pm
to discuss what sanctuary looks like for people fleeing persecution.
How can today's UK Cities of Sanctuary resist this growing hostile environment?
racearchive.org.uk/sanctuary-no...
Our monthly newsletter is a great place to keep update to date with our work and learn more about what we do as an organisation.
🎃October's newsletter: mailchi.mp/gmiau/our-ne...
🎃October's newsletter: mailchi.mp/gmiau/our-ne...
A busy month of publications, updates, and messages of solidarity.
mailchi.mp
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Our monthly newsletter is a great place to keep update to date with our work and learn more about what we do as an organisation.
🎃October's newsletter: mailchi.mp/gmiau/our-ne...
🎃October's newsletter: mailchi.mp/gmiau/our-ne...