Holding the Home Office to account: uncovering the failing of the EU Settlement Scheme

I am Dahaba Ali Hussen and I spent years in an immigration nightmare with the Home Office. 

My immigration history is not complicated.  I was born in the Netherlands and my family moved to the UK when I was 10 and I have not left. Growing up, I seized every opportunity that was handed to me. I studied History at University of Cambridge, and currently I am an award winning political and social affairs journalist. Like millions of EU citizens, I applied for Settled Status in 2019 thinking of the words of Amber Rudd who famously said when she was the Home Secretary it would be like ordering a pair of shoes online, but the Home Office sadly does not do next day delivery and my application was declined 18 months later. I made a second application in April 2021, which fell into the backlog. 

I am asking you to donate today so we can hold the Home Office to account!

I spent an entire year living with insecurities surrounding my immigration status. When my second application was declined again last month, I re-applied immediately because I knew I was eligible for status with my Dutch passport, but things got worse when my employer couldn’t check my right to work and cancelled my shifts. How was I going to pay the rent or the bills? How was I going to support my mum? I was caught in the middle of the hostile environment and feeling desperate. 

I decided to tell my story publicly to raise support, and many offered their support both on and offline. I created a national media storm, and the pressure on the Home Office increased, with journalists contacting their news desk asking for details. 

I was finally granted Indefinite Leave to Remain on 24 May 2022 and I felt so relieved - 3 years after making my original application -  but I cannot forget how I felt and what I went through. I now want to campaign for those who are still stuck in the Home Office backlog nightmare. 

It's not about me or individual cases. It's about systematic change

I know that however traumatic my ordeal was, I am one of the lucky ones. There are countless others who do not know their rights much less are able to advocate for themselves. 

I want people to be granted the status and the rights they are entitled to, without delays or scary tactics. 

I want systemic changes and justice for people who have been mistreated by the Home Office. I want justice for those who are vulnerable and fall victim to policies and procedures that, either by design or by fault, cause them to fail.

I am organising this campaign with Nicolas Hatton, CEO of the3million, the EU citizens’ group, to fight for social justice for EU citizens and pave the way to get justice for all migrants. 

What we will do

Your donations will help me and the3million to gather the stories of people from all backgrounds who are or have been in a similar situation to myself. These stories will feed the research into the systemic failure of the Home Office.

• We will advocate for change meaningfully and litigate when necessary.
• We will empower people and inform them of their rights, so they can fight unlawful decisions.
• We will change the public narrative by highlighting the inequalities in immigration policies and telling the stories of real people. 

Join the campaign today!