Windrush scandal – what to do after you have gained citizenship

The Windrush generation came to the UK between 1948 and 1971 as Citizens of the Commonwealth with a right to live in the UK. They came lawfully from the Caribbean and other parts of the Commonwealth to work and provide for their families, and to help rebuild a post-war Britiain.

Recent events have clearly revealed how the Home Office's initiative to create a 'hostile environment' for supposedly-illegal immigrants has resulted in potentially thousands of Windrush migrants being unlawfully removed from the country, separating them from their families, friends and the lives they had built for themselves over decades in the UK. This appears to have happened as a result of the Home Office destroying historic documents, leaving many Windrush migrants with no way to prove that they entered and resided here completely legally.

The Home Office has recently confirmed that it would be setting up a scheme to offer legal redress to victims of the Windrush scandal. No significant details of the scheme have been released, but it is understood that it will include rectifying the immigration status and returning those who have been removed or were refused re-entry, as well as compensation for the distress and disruption caused to their lives. Beyond urgently resolving victims' immigration status, it is imperative that the Home Office swiftly sets up an adequate compensation scheme to properly compensate victims for both their distress and their financial losses.

Saunders Law regularly act for clients in claims against the Home Office and we are instructed by victims of the Windrush scandal. If you believe that you or a member of your family has a claim under the scheme please contact us to see if we can help.