Immigration roundup: April 2026

In the April round-up, Jasmine is joined by Mala Savjani, an associate solicitor at Wilsons. They cover April’s most significant developments, which includes a Court of Appeal decision on what past ill-treatment actually has to look like to amount to persecution, a landmark European Court of Human Rights ruling on returns to Afghanistan, and a High Court judgment looking at whether single hotel rooms are ‘adequate’ for asylum-seeking families.

They also discuss the ongoing saga of the last person stranded on Diego Garcia and practical guidance on domestic abuse cases where survivors fall outside the rules. Plus costs applications, surrogacy, sponsor right to work checks, and more.

Asylum and protection (00:58)

Past arrest and beating of Vietnamese protester does not amount to persecution

European Court rules return of Hazara Afghan national would breach Article 3

Asylum hotel accommodation unlawful where it fails basic standards of adequacy

The importance of early clarification of grounds of appeal

Final Diego Garcia migrant moved from the military base to the Maldives

Family and human rights (15:18)

Home Secretary accepts she can grant further leave on the five-year route without the no recourse to public funds condition

When domestic abuse survivors don’t fit the rules: options and risks

Adoption and surrogacy: when is a child born overseas British?

High Court finds Afghan relocation refusal unlawful and unpublished guidance is withdrawn 

EU Settlement Scheme (27:16)

Continuous residence under the EU Settlement Scheme: changes to automated settlement process and expanded cancellation policy

Work (31:40)

Confusing changes to sponsor right to work checks: what has changed and what is still unclear

Procedure (33:27)

Applications for costs in immigration cases: what practitioners need to know