Immigration lawyers seek guidance for children involved in appeals

A professional body for immigration lawyers has called for specific guidance to asylum and immigration tribunals on treatment of children involved in appeals.

The call came while Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) was responding to a consultation on the procedures for tribunals deciding appeals against Home Office decisions.

ILPA asserted while guidance for child and vulnerable witnesses in family courts was good, it wanted further guidance for tribunals that takes into account the range of circumstances for the children involved.

A solicitor and member of ILPA’s children’s sub-committee Syd Bolton said it was important that everything that is put in place makes the court a place where a child could be made to feel as comfortable as possible and be given the opportunity to be heard.