Advocacy Update, 5th September 2024

Our fortnightly summary of advocacy and campaigning initiatives, new research, government developments and useful resources from across the asylum, refugee and migration sector. Contact us if you’d like to discuss anything in this bulletin.

1. Advocacy and campaigning Initiatives
2. Government and Parliamentary updates
3. Reports and research
4. Resources, events, jobs and training
5. What we’re reading, watching and listening to

1. Advocacy and campaigning Initiatives

Another awful channel fatality this week with at least twelve more lives lost. We send our love & strength to those grieving, those left without safety, and our solidarity with you all.

Campaign for free bus travel in Scotland

Over 50 frontline refugee support organisations, faith organisations and public bodies have written to the First Minister of Scotland to voice their disappointment and to call for a roadmap to restored public transport access, after the Scottish Government scrapped plans for a nationwide pilot for free bus travel for people seeking asylum. A spokesperson for Maryhill Integration Network said  of the Scottish Government’s decision “This news comes as a shock to all of us who have tirelessly provided information and campaigned to make this possible since December 2021…we know that having free bus travel would have a positive impact by providing support and connection with others, as well as allowing access to education, advice and advocacy.”

Keep Campsfield Closed!

In response to the UK Government’s announcement of its intention to reopen immigration removal centres at Campsfield and Haslar, over 50 organisations coordinated by the Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees, the Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed and Border Criminologies have written to the Home Secretary. Their letter calls for the plans to be abandoned, for a reduction in the immigration detention estate, implementation of the recommendations of the Brook House inquiry, investment in community based alternatives to detention and engagement with those with lived experience of detention.

Coverage here. You can learn more about the coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed here and sign and share their petition.

Meanwhile, nearly a year after the Brook House inquiry into mistreatment at that facility, the Gatwick Independent Monitoring Board has reported ongoing “continuing failings” in safeguarding, detention and release at both Brook House and Tinsley House at Gatwick.

ByLine Times reports that official figures show that self harm in immigration detention has soared by 67% from June 2023 – May 2024.

Safe Homes Not Hotels

Conversation Over Borders have coordinated a petition via 38Degrees calling on the Home Office to: urgently ensure the safety and protection of all asylum seekers and refugees, ensure clear evacuation protocols for hotels and trauma informed mental health and wellbeing support, urgently change the dial on refugee and asylum seeker housing policy, and to house people seeking asylum in #CommunitiesNotCamps and #SafeHomesNotHotels. It has already received over 10,000 signatures, and you can add yours here.

Call for regularisation

Migrant Voice have coordinated this letter, signed by more than 80 organisations, calling on the Government to pursue policies of regularisation and to change the conditions which leave people at risk of exploitation. Coverage here.

2. Government and Parliamentary updates

   Parliament in session

   MPs returned to Westminster this week, with the Home Secretary making a statement on the violent disorder which took place in August, and an intervention by Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport condemning those who claimed to act in the name of the community. Coverage here.

   Immigration statistics

   The latest immigration statistics have been released, showing 118,822 people waiting for an initial decision on their asylum claim as of the end of June 2024, up slightly from March 2024. The

   figures show a drop in asylum decision making in the weeks before the July general election. BBC explainer here, Migration Observatory analysis here. The new statistics also reveal that the number of people being housed in hotels has dropped to 29, 585, and that 76,268 people have been waiting longer than 6 months for a decision on their asylum application. The Lift the Ban coalition estimates that the Government could earn £280.6 million per year if restrictions on working were lifted for this cohort.

    

3. Reports and research

Destitute and In Danger: people made homeless by the asylum system

This new report from Jesuit Refugee Service examines experiences of homelessness among people refused asylum in London in autumn 2023. Most research participants had no secure accommodation, rough sleeping was common, people were vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and prevented from managing life-threatening conditions. The report’s author, Sophie Cartwright is holding a webinar to discuss the report at 5pm on 18 September – register here.

Survey on education delays faced by children in the asylum system

Garden Court Chambers, Public Law Project and Together with Migrant Children are collecting data on delays in accessing school places. They are requesting that organisations working with children seeking asylum complete this short survey by 20 September.

IFS comment and explainer – Home Office budgeting and asylum overspends

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has produced this explainer and this comment on Home Office budgeting and overspending on the asylum system. It says that the Home Office’s initial estimated budgets for asylum, border, visa and passport operations amounted to £320 million over the last three years, but the Department ended up spending £7.9 billion, £7.6 billion more than forecast. The IFS points to “woeful budgeting”, including initial budgets “it knows to be insufficient” being submitted and then being subsequently topped up by the Treasury Reserve.  The comment received widespread coverage including in the BBC, Sky and Civil Service World.

ICIBI annual report

The report of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has been laid in Parliament, covering the period 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024. Coverage here.

Immigration raids: an anatomy of racist intimidation.

The Migrants Rights’ Network has published this new report, which looks at immigration raids as a tactic used by the Home Office and exposes the usually more secretive and hidden aspects of immigration raids, including who plays a part in them behind the scenes, and how they come to be.

4. Resources, events, jobs and training

Finalising the Common Message – event for people with lived experience

One Strong Voice are bringing together people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system in London on 28 September, to agree on principles and messaging for migrant charities to integrate into their campaigns. They will support transport costs for those with lived experience up to a maximum of two people per organisation. Further details and registration here

Creating spaces that disrupt division

Imix, in partnership with ‘Who is Your Neighbour’ is holding an event on 25 September 2-4pm to discuss training, resources and support to foster understanding and unity across communities. Register here.

Jobs

• MSF UK are recruiting a medical doctor to work in London and Wethersfield with their small team providing primary healthcare to people seeking asylum. Deadline 5 September, details here.
• Bevan Foundation are recruiting for a Partnership Coordinator. Deadline 19 September.
• African Rainbow Family are recruiting for a refugee move on and integration officer (Manchester). Deadline 27 September.
• Migrant Democracy Project are recruiting a campaigns organiser to start in October. More details here.
• Just Fair is recruiting for a  Head of Advocacy and Communications. Deadline 9am 30 Septemeber

Refugee Action is recruiting for Senior Policy and Research Officer closing 8 September and Senior Public Affairs Officer closing 15 September

5. What we’re reading, watching and listening to
   • This piece in the Law Gazette on the urgent need for more than warm words to ensure adequate legal representation for people seeking asylum.

• This on the arrival of Afghan women trainee doctors in Edinburgh, after a three year campaign to secure their relocation.