Sudan's civil war is on the cover, at last -- and this week's issue of The Economist includes a big package of stories about, and from, Sudan. 🧵

Harmondsworth immigration removal centre "the worst that HMI Prisons has found in its IRC inspections... I was shocked to see detainees openly smoking cannabis and staff had all but stopped challenging smoking indoors" hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_report…

Germany announces changes for asylum seekers politico.eu/article/german…

Removals popular, poll suggests yougov.co.uk/topics/politic…

In 2023, 313,000 work visas were granted to non-EU citizens (excl. dependants), more than double the 2019 level (137,000). Our updated work visas briefing looks at routes UK work migrants used and the jobs they do once they’ve arrived🧵 migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/brie…

Seems suboptimal that because Ireland cannot build enough homes, one of its most respected economists plausibly suggests deliberately making the country poorer than it could be to keep a lid on housing demand. irishtimes.com/business/econo…

Sajid Javid’s brother, a former police officer, impressed Cooper during pre-election access talks, says (((Dan Hodges)))

"Anecdotal evidence of a recent increase in Afghan asylum refusals, along with publication of two updated country policy and information notes suggests that the Home Office has changed its approach to those who have come to the UK from Afghanistan" freemovement.org.uk/a-troubling-ne…

"Illegal visa network making millions fleecing students" - BBC investigation finds that one man made £1.2m selling mostly fake certificates of sponsorship to work in care homes bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

At least 12 people dead and two missing after boat carrying migrants capsized in Channel, says French interior minister bbc.in/4cQT1C1

Karen Bradley and David Mundell have both been nominated chair of the Home Affairs Committee - the ballot takes place next Wednesday commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/Document/88507…

Germany's migration commissioner proposes Rwanda migrant deportation plan reut.rs/3B0CwWA

The Home Office spent well over half a billion pounds on temporary staff in the last 2 years as it tried to tackle the asylum backlog In 2019-2020, the department spent £88.8m on temporary staff In the last year, it spent £269.9m reports Andrew Kersley politicshome.com/news/article/h…

The Home Office are abandoning plans to use the Scampton RAF site as asylum accommodation. The costs had continued to multiply (it's at the end of this written statement that mostly focuses on enforcement and detention) questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statem…