# Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements

The Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements (IMA; Welsh: Awdurdod Monitro Annibynnol ar gyfer y Cytundebau Hawliau Dinasyddion) is a body corporate set up in the United Kingdom by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 to monitor the functioning of the provisions of the Brexit withdrawal agreement relating to citizens' rights, and to protect the rights of European Union citizens in the UK.
Based in Swansea, Wales, it is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.

## Role of the IMA

When the United Kingdom made the decision to exit the European Union (EU) a formal agreement was established to protect citizens whom the exit would impact upon. As part of that, we have been established to make sure the agreement is being properly upheld. In specific terms, the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA) protects the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens, and their family members, in the UK and Gibraltar. Essentially, the IMA helps people from EU and EEA EFTA countries get the same rights as they did before the UK left the EU. The IMA are responsible for making sure that UK public bodies are respecting the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens and their family members. Public bodies can include:
* government departments (such as the Home Office or HM Revenue and Customs)
* devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
* government agencies (such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
* local councils
* non-departmental public bodies (such as NHS England or the Health and Safety Executive)
* public corporations (such as the BBC or the Pension Protection Fund)
Many of the organisations the IMA monitor are on the list of departments, agencies and public bodies on located on www.gov.uk. The IMA are also responsible for monitoring public bodies in Gibraltar.

## Enforcement & Investigations
### Home Office

In October 2022, IMA took the Home Office to court, arguing that it is against the withdrawal agreement for the government to require EU citizens to apply for settled status upon the expiry of their pre-settled status.

## Structure

The Independent Monitoring Authority costs of a non-executive board of six directors representing each governed area represented in the Withdrawal Agreement.
| Name | Post held | Appointed Until |
| Vacant | Chairman | |
| Leo O'Reilly | Interim-Chairman | 7 December 2023 |
| Punam Birly | Non-executive Director | 7 December 2025 |
| Ronnie Alexander | Non-executive Director | 16 March 2024 |
| Marcus Killick | Non-executive Director | 7 December 2023 |
| Joyce Cullen | Non-executive Director | 9 February 2024 |
All non-executive directors are appointed by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
Day-to-day manage is delegated to the Chief Executive of the IMA who has overall responsibility for the three directorates.
| Name | Post held | Post Held Since | Tenure |
| Miranda Biddle | Chief Executive Officer | July 2023 | 1 year, 143 days |
| Andrew Bagley | Director of Governance and Corporate Services | September 2020 | 4 years, 111 days |
| Rhys Davies | General Counsel | November 2020 | 4 years, 63 days |
| Pam Everett | Director of Operational Delivery | November 2020 | 4 years, 81 days |

### Former executive and non-executive directors

| Portrait | Name | Post held | Start | End | Tenure |
| | Dr Kathryn Chamberlain | Chief Executive Officer | 2020 | 2023 | 3 years, 180 days |
| | Sir Ashley Fox | Chairman | 2020 | 2023 | 2 years, 281 days |