Cameron Roberts (NYU Liberal Studies) | Refugee Law Clinic | London, United Kingdom
I am nearing my first month of work at the Refugee Law Clinic and have seen up close the quick pace at which refugee rights are changing in the UK. After a little under two weeks in my role, the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for a general election and promised no flights would take off to Rwanda before July 4th. Yet even as the future of the UK-Rwanda treaty hangs in the balance, the pressure of the proposed removals is weighing heavily on the migrant community in London.
My work at the clinic is focused on the creation of further submissions for an applicant to lodge a fresh asylum claim. I have been assigned to several clinic cases and in meeting with clients they consistently express fear of leaving the house or continuing to report to the Home Office. The thought on all of their minds is Rwanda, especially after the government released guidance for the removal of appeal rights exhausted asylum seekers. This announcement was a departure from previous government plans that focused primarily on asylum seekers who had yet to receive an initial decision.
Beyond working directly with clients and assisting with the preparation of witness statements, trafficking referrals, and further submissions I was also privileged enough to attend the Refugee Law Initiative (RLI) 8th annual conference. RLI is the academic institution that houses the Refugee Law Clinic and its annual conference brings together academics, migrant advocates from the NGO sector, and UNHCR officials to discuss a central topic relevant to international refugee law. This year’s conference was focused on ‘Pacts, Promises and Protection.’ This theme allowed panel participants to share their current research on issues related to the Global Compact on Refugees, the UK’s Rwanda Plan, and the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The conference’s overwhelming focus on the legal aspect of refugee rights was extremely insightful and added to my tangible understanding of the work I am completing in the clinic as well as the work I hope to complete in the future. Moreover, hearing and getting to speak with UNHCR representatives gave me direct insight into the organization responsible for monitoring the enforcement of international agreements related to migrant and refugee rights.
I am also in the process of completing independent research at the clinic related to credibility’s role in fresh claims proceedings as well as issues related to disputed nationality in asylum cases. I am hopeful that the rest of my time at the RLC will allow me to deepen my understanding of the application of international law in asylum proceedings as I continue to complete research and work on clinic cases.