In a recent Justia blog post, Professor Lesley Wexler examines a British immigration scandal involving the Windrush generation that is currently receiving a fair amount of media attention. She writes:
"Over the last six months, the Guardian published a number of pieces on the mistreatment of the Windrush generation rendering the issue much more visible. Even so, Theresa May initially rejected a meeting to discuss the issue the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings. It wasn’t until 140 MPs signed a letter calling on the Prime Minister that the government began to act.
"Over the next few days, a series of apologies were put forth. On April 16, 2018, Home Secretary Amber Rudd apologized for the “appalling” actions of her department, acknowledging that the Home Office had “lost sight of individuals” and become “too concerned with policy”. She announced a new team to guide the Windrush generation through the process with an “aim to resolve cases within two weeks and promised that Windrush individuals need not pay for documentation and that “there will be no removals or detention as part of any assistance to help these citizens get their proper documentation.” Yet the Minister of State for Immigration Caroline Nokes declined to publicly apologize when given the opportunity. It was only once the Guardian broke the news that the government had intentionally destroyed the landing slips of the Windrush generation that a more robust apology was in order."
Wexler goes on to identify troubling shortcomings in the apology and remedy offered.
Read the full post at verdict.justia.com.