EDM 1279: Digital-only immigration status

That this House expresses serious concern about the implementation of the digital-only immigration status, which was first rolled out in 2018 for those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme and by the end of 2024 had been extended to all migrants with an immigration status in the UK; notes that this system fails to provide individuals with secure, tangible, offline and independently accessible proof of status; recognises that the View and Prove process (requiring repeated access to a GOV.UK platform, two-factor authentication, and generation of share codes) is cumbersome, fragmented and unfit for purpose, presenting serious accessibility barriers for digitally excluded and vulnerable individuals; is deeply concerned about reports of alarming failures of data integrity, including corrupted records displaying incorrect photographs, biodata, or status; further notes that at critical moments poor internet connectivity also renders people unable to prove their status; stresses the significant consequences for people in those situations, including denial of job opportunities, housing, education, and healthcare, with people also often left stranded at borders at the point of travel; is alarmed by the potential parallels with the Windrush scandal; and calls on the Government to launch an independent review of the Home Office’s implementation of the digital-only immigration status in consultation with impacted communities, considering secure alternatives and compensation for individuals who have incurred losses due to the system’s failures.