Migration policy

Current work:

Dispersal

In response to concerns about the dispersal of asylum seekers living with HIV, the National AIDS Trust investigated issues related to dispersal and produced a report in January 2006. Read the report outlining recommendations for improvement. These recommendations helped influence the introduction of new Home Office procedures for dispersal of asylum seekers with healthcare needs.

The National AIDS Trust and British HIV Association developed a booklet in December 2006 entitled: "The Dispersal Process for Asylum Seekers Living with HIV - Advice for Health Care and Voluntary Sector Professionals". Read the dispersal booklet.

In June and July 2007, the National AIDS Trust undertook an evaluation of its dispersal booklet and the new Home Office dispersal process. Respondents, from relevant health care associations and voluntary sector organisations, found the booklet a clear and helpful guide in working with dispersed asylum seekers. However, the survey also showed that the new dispersal process is not yet being consistently implemented and that Home Office actions did not always seem to follow best practice guidance related to dispersal of HIV-positive asylum seekers.

These findings have informed a response in September 2007 by the National AIDS Trust to a Home Office Border and Immigration Agency review of policy and practice of the dispersal process for asylum seekers with healthcare needs. Read the response.

Removal

In 2006, the National AIDS Trust undertook a survey of health care managers in the UK's ten Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) about the management of HIV. The findings and conclusions from this survey have been published and the National AIDS Trust is currently working to take forward the recommendations identified, including collaborating with the British HIV Association and IRC health care staff on the development of best practice guidelines that ensure consistency and transparency in the removal process and support high quality care for asylum seekers living with HIV and AIDS.

Read the survey findings and recommendations.

Initial Accommodation

The National AIDS Trust is currently reviewing what information on HIV prevention, testing and treatment is available to asylum seekers being supported in initial accommodation. Working with the Home Office Border and Immigration Agency and other stakeholders, the National AIDS Trust hopes to develop best practice guidelines and will identify potential opportunities to distribute additional sexual health and HIV-related materials, including information about the benefits of accessing voluntary testing and HIV services in the UK.

Read the report on this work. 

Asylum Pathway

The National AIDS Trust has published HIV and the UK Asylum Pathway.  More people than ever before are living with HIV in the UK, and a significant number of asylum applicants are coming from high prevalence countries.  This report makes the case for the needs of HIV-positive asylum seekers to be better supported throughout the asylum process and the HIV prevention needs of migrants to be considered earlier.

HIV and the UK Asylum Pathway is in two parts.  The first section maps out the complex pathway an asylum seeker in the UK takes from application to when a decision is made on their claim.  The second half of the report highlights the needs of an HIV-positive asylum seeker and identifies both challenges and opportunities professionals have to address those needs.

The report is an ideal guide for professionals including community care nurses, GPs and civil servants, who support asylum seekers through the course of their work.  Download the report here.

To share your thoughts and experiences on migration policy please contact Joe Murray, Policy Officer: joe.murray@nat.org.uk, 020 7814 6756.

Key Resources:

• HIV and the UK Asylum Pathway - (April 2008) A report mapping out the journey of an asylum seeker from application to when a decision is made on their claim.  Highlights the needs of HIV-positive asylum seekers. 
• Dispersal of Asylum Seekers Living with HIV - (Jan 2006) A report that outlining the dispersal process of asylum seekers and looks at areas of concern in relation to past dispersal practices.
  
• The Dispersal Process for Asylum Seekers Living with HIV - (Dec 2006) A booklet developed in collaboration with the British HIV Association which provides advice to health care professionals and voluntary sector organisations working with dispersed asylum seekers affected by HIV.
  
• Review of Border and Immigration Agency Policy Bulletin on Dispersing Asylum Seekers with Healthcare Needs including Pregnancy- (Sept 2006) A response to a review of policy and practice of the dispersal process for asylum seekers with healthcare needs.
  
• Immigration Removal Centre Responses to HIV and AIDS: Results of a Survey of Healthcare Managers - (May 2007) A discussion paper developed in May 2007 that presents findings and recommendations from a survey of healthcare managers regarding the policies and practices related to HIV in immigration removal centres.
  
• Initial Accommodation and HIV- (Sept 2007) A report developed in September 2007 that outlines initial accommodation and provides recommendations to support best practice related to asylum seekers living with HIV in intial accommodation.