The European Convention on Human Rights and immigration control in the UK: informing the public debate

Discussion paper

Adelmant, V., Donald, A. and Çalı, B. 2025. The European Convention on Human Rights and immigration control in the UK: informing the public debate. Oxford, UK Bonavero Institute of Human Rights .
TypeDiscussion paper
TitleThe European Convention on Human Rights and immigration control in the UK: informing the public debate
AuthorsAdelmant, V., Donald, A. and Çalı, B.
EditorsGrogan, J. and Leach, P.
Abstract

Debate about the role of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in the context of immigration has intensified in the UK in recent months. This report identifies and addresses misconceptions widely reported in the media concerning the application of the ECHR to immigration control. The report is based on a systematic review of media coverage about the ECHR between January and June 2025, wherein it was found that over 75% of the 379 media reports reviewed which mentioned the ECHR focused on the application of the Convention in immigration control, and in particular on the issue of human rights-based appeals against deportation by foreign national offenders. When subjected to rigorous analysis, fact-checking, and scrutiny of claims made about legal frameworks and cases, the review found that many news reports and opinion pieces about immigration and the ECHR were based on misconceptions, often mischaracterising UK immigration law, the UK’s appeals system, and the role played by the ECHR and the European Court of Human Rights in this context.

KeywordsECHR; human rights; immigration; deportation; media
Sustainable Development Goals16 Peace, justice and strong institutions
Middlesex University ThemeHealth & Wellbeing
PublisherBonavero Institute of Human Rights
Place of publicationOxford, UK
Publication dates
Print04 Sep 2025
Publication process dates
AcceptedAug 2025
Deposited08 Sep 2025
Output statusPublished
Copyright Statement

Bonavero Report 3/2025

Web address (URL)https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-09/European%20Convention%20on%20Human%20Rights%20and%20Immigration%20Control%20in%20the%20UK_4%20Sept%202025.pdf
LanguageEnglish
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