{"id":663,"date":"2021-02-09T10:42:49","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T10:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jointpublicissues.org.uk\/?p=9378"},"modified":"2021-02-09T10:42:49","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T10:42:49","slug":"the-expansion-of-the-voluntary-returns-scheme-and-the-euss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/standrewsurcrustington.org.uk\/?p=663","title":{"rendered":"The expansion of the voluntary returns scheme and the EUSS"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

In the last week, it was
\nrevealed that the UK\u2019s voluntary returns scheme has been expanded to include EU
\ncitizens. What does this mean for the EU Settlement Scheme?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The government\u2019s voluntary returns scheme was expanded at
\nthe start of this year to include EU citizens. On this scheme, migrants to the
\nUK are offered financial incentives to return to their country of origin \u2013 which
\ncan be as much as \u00a32000 on top of money for flights<\/a>. <\/p>\n

This move is worrying. It\u2019s months before the June deadline for
\napplying the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), when almost all EU and EEA citizens
\nwill need to have put in an application to get a new immigration status in the
\naftermath of Brexit. The Government have stated their commitment to getting all
\neligible people in the UK signed up for the EU Settlement Scheme, but by adding
\nEU citizens to the voluntary returns scheme many months before the application deadline,
\nthere is potential for some confusion of this message.<\/p>\n

If EU citizens genuinely wish to return to their country of
\norigin, then it\u2019s a really good thing that the UK Government is seeking to help
\nthem do this. But the problem arises when vulnerable people are incentivised to
\nleave the UK, but not made properly aware of the ways in which they can stay.
\nThis policy risks preying on the lowest-income and most vulnerable EU citizens
\nif it doesn\u2019t come alongside a concerted effort to publicise the EU Settlement
\nScheme. <\/p>\n

Benjamin Morgan, who runs the EU homeless rights project at
\nthe Public Interest Law Centre<\/a>, said<\/a>,
\n\u201cThis mixed messaging around settled status on the one hand and voluntary
\nreturns on the other, seriously undermines the government\u2019s claim that the
\nrights of vulnerable Europeans will be protected after Brexit.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Home Office spokesperson has stated that the extension to
\nthe voluntary returns scheme to EU citizens isn\u2019t in contention with a
\ncommitment to the EUSS. But for vulnerable EU citizens who aren\u2019t aware that
\nthey need to sign up for the Scheme, and those struggling to make ends meet in
\nthe UK during the pandemic, it\u2019s easy to see how the voluntary returns scheme
\ncould work against the aim of making EU citizens feel at home in the UK. The
\nmove risks cultivating distrust towards EU citizens who choose to remain in the
\nUK, even with a settled status, or discouraging them from seeking settled
\nstatus at all.<\/p>\n

Recent
\nresearch from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants<\/a> warned that
\nthousands of European key workers, especially care workers, were unaware of the
\nEU Settlement Scheme, its deadline, and how to gather the necessary information
\nto complete an application. It\u2019s clear that the message about the EU Settlement
\nScheme hasn\u2019t got to everywhere it needs to be. <\/p>\n

On top of this, immigration rules have recently changed to
\nmean that rough sleeping is now grounds for refusal or cancellation of
\npermission to stay in the UK. The new rule isn\u2019t being enforced yet but when it
\nis, those who haven\u2019t yet signed up for the EUSS may well feel the full impact
\nof the hostile environment. <\/p>\n

JPIT\u2019s partner churches have been outspoken about the need
\nfor the UK to be a welcoming place for everyone, regardless of their passport,
\nimmigration status, or place of birth. This is a belief rooted in Biblical
\nprinciples.<\/p>\n

\n

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.<\/p>\n


Hebrews 13:1-3 <\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Every human being is a child of God, and should be treated
\nwith dignity and respect, so society has a duty of care to welcome people \u2013
\nespecially the most vulnerable EU citizens who may not be aware of or able to
\ncomplete an application to the EUSS. Giving people a financial incentive to
\nleave the place in which they have made their home while not supporting them to
\napply to the EUSS properly risks creating a divide between those with British
\npassports and those without. <\/p>\n

If you know someone who might need to apply for the EU
\nSettlement Scheme, or are looking to support someone through an application or
\nappeal, check out our resources here<\/a>.
\nThey\u2019re aimed at church leaders but can be used by anyone looking to help
\nvulnerable EU citizens stay in the homes which they have made in the UK.<\/p>\n

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\nSource<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the last week, it was revealed that the UK\u2019s voluntary returns scheme has been expanded to include EU citizens. What does this mean for the EU Settlement Scheme? The government\u2019s voluntary returns scheme was expanded at the start of … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-urc-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t