The Home Office destroyed thousands of landing card slips recording Windrush immigrants’ arrival dates in the UK, despite staff warnings that the move would make it harder to check the records of older Caribbean-born residents experiencing residency difficulties. It requires employers, NHS staff, private landlords and other bodies to demand evidence of people’s citizenship or immigration status. The Home Office added that in deciding immigration cases, it considers alternative documents, such as tax records and utility bills, as evidence of ongoing residency. Home Office staff members have been reluctant to consider alternative records, such as National Insurance contributions, unless they are presented within a dossier of papers proving residency every year for decades. “Generally speaking, most Home Office staff want to try to do the right thing and be fair, within the rules,” he said.

Source: The Guardian April 17, 2018 13:20 UTC