Home Secretary Sajid Javid apologised Thursday for illegally requiring immigrants to provide DNA samples as part of their visa applications to settle in the UK.
An internal review was launched four months ago after officials admitted to forcing migrants to take DNA tests.
"Today I want to take this opportunity to apologise to those affected by this practice," Mr Javid told MPs.
"The provision of DNA evidence should always be voluntary and never mandatory."
According to a report, the DNA evidence was requested using inappropriate wording in 398 cases as part of an operation investigating fraud - 83 of the asylum applications were refused.
13 of the cases are currently being reviewed. Seven of them were found to have been refused solely for not providing DNA evidence whilst in six of them, the refusal to provide DNA was referenced. A task force was set up to investigate further cases.
Mr Javid said he was "determined to get to the bottom of how and why, in some cases, people were compelled to provide DNA in the first place."
"Across our immigration system, no-one should face a demand to supply DNA evidence and no-one should have been penalised for not providing it," he said.
Those affected will be compensated and Mr Javid vowed to review the immigration system to ensure it was "fair and humane".
Labour MP Yvette Copper, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said that "the contents of the Home Secretary's statement are shocking and may have had a devastating impact on the lives of families.”
The Scottish National Party (SNP) also voiced criticism. "It's another example of the Home Office being out of control and a result of a migration target that they're still completely obsessed with and more evidence that the hostile environment lives on," frontbencher Patrick Grady said.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
TOURNAMENT INFO
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Thursday results
UAE beat Kuwait by 86 runs
Qatar beat Bahrain by five wickets
Saudi Arabia beat Maldives by 35 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, third-place playoff – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
3pm, final – UAE v Qatar
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Schalke 0
Werder Bremen 1 (Bittencourt 32')
Man of the match Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
