Data from the Home Office, shows 4722 people from the European Union (EU) have been issued with documentation confirming their status or British citizenship up to the first quarter of 2023 – through the Windrush Scheme.

However, the number of people from Jamaica who were granted documentation after applying to the Windrush Scheme during the same period was 3416 people.

Leading campaigners say this is another example that the system is “fundamentally flawed” and needs urgent reform.

Speaking to The Voice, Windrush campaigner Patrick Vernon said: “It further reinforces racial inequality particularly for those from the Windrush generation.”

For applicants from other Caribbean countries, 2067 applicants were granted their status.

Applications made by people from West African countries have even lower numbers of people having their status granted.

Only 453 people from Nigeria had their status secured and people from a Ghanaian background – who applied – only 158 people were given documentation.

Vernon added: “It highlights no efforts have been made to engage with the African community around their status in the UK or internationally.”

Documentation

In May 2018, the Windrush Scheme was launched to ensure members of the Windrush generation could get the documentation they need to prove their right to be in the UK, free of charge.

So far, over 16,200 people have been issued with documentation confirming their status or British citizenship up to the first quarter of this year.

The Home Office say the Windrush Scheme is for anyone who came to the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973, or your parents or grandparents came to the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973.

But it also open for people you came to the UK from any country before 31 December 1988 and are now settled here.

Vernon said the figures could also demonstrate that the EU Settlement Scheme – a process for EU nationals and their family members who wanted to stay in the UK after Brexit – is not working

“It is diabolic that despite all this money that has been spent on the EU Settlement Scheme, it’s easier for someone who is an EU national and been in Britain for a long time to go through the Windrush Taskforce,” he said.

CAMPAIGNER: Patrick Vernon OBE believes all Windrush scandal victims should be granted automatic status in the United Kingdom

Concerns

The social commentator said he is concerned about the low numbers of people being granted their status from African and Caribbean countries and warned applications from the Windrush generation could be rejected based on new criteria that was introduced.

He said: “I suspect a lot of those applications have been rejected, because they introduced extra criteria if you have a criminal record or are deemed of bad character, then they will not process your status.”

The campaigner believes this could create a further scandal in the future, with those who have been refused status on these grounds, eventually being deported.

“At some stage, someone could get deported down the line, unless they can prove otherwise that they can be here,” he said.

The Home Office told The Voice: “No enforcement action is taken against individuals whose status is under review by the Windrush Help Team, or who have an ongoing Windrush (status) Scheme application.”

The department also added there are a “variety of reasons why applications under the Windrush Status Scheme can be rejected.

“Some people may have been granted status, but then go on to have a citizenship application rejected. Rejection does not necessarily mean an individual does not have status.”

According to the Home Office, information provided as part of a compensation claim would never be passed on to Immigration Enforcement or used as part of enforcement action.

They said: “Individuals applying to the Compensation Scheme can do so in the knowledge that the information they provide will never be used against them.”

Status

One of Mr Vernon’s key demands in his 2018 petition was for Windrush scandal victims to be given automatic status in Britain and he continues to stand by this demand.

He said: “The government collects data on everyone, they know how long people have been here through tax, National Insurance contributions and NHS records and they should have given people automatic status.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The whole of government remain absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal.

“Already we have paid or offered more than £75 million in compensation to those affected and we continue to make improvements so people receive the maximum award as quickly as possible, but we know there is more to do, and will work tirelessly to make sure such an injustice is never repeated.”

View original post