One of the measures introduced by Rishi Sunak in his asylum assertion on 13 December 2022 was the re-starting of hostile setting immigration checks on bank accounts. These checks have been launched by the Immigration Act 2016 however have been paused by Sajid Javid in 2018 when he was Home Secretary. There was no session on Sunak’s plan and it appears to herald authorities disengagement from the ongoing Windrush Lessons Learned Review course of.
These banking checks are extraordinarily controversial. The Immigration Act 2014 already required banks to conduct immigration checks earlier than opening a brand new account. This already proves problematic for refugees and college students particularly, however at the very least it doesn’t contain shedding one thing you have already got. Having your current bank account closed on you is an entire new degree of disaster.
Imagine it. With no discover, you immediately can’t make or obtain any funds. The solely cash you’ve now could be no matter was in your pockets. You can’t purchase meals, journey or pay hire. Your telephone will quickly run out of credit score. You can’t pay a lawyer to try to kind issues out, both, as a result of you haven’t any cash.
Some individuals will say that is effective if these affected are unlawful immigrants with no proper to be right here. Personally, I disagree with this. These types of measures power individuals into destitution and go away them open to exploitation. There isn’t any proof that they really persuade or power individuals out of the nation, although. They make life laborious and…
