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
NEW ACTION – Write to your MP and ask them to oppose refugees being left in limbo on temporary status
The government has introduced a policy that could leave many refugees in the UK facing years of uncertainty, with their protection reviewed every 30 months and the constant threat of return hanging over them. Introduced through changes to the immigration rules following the government’s Restoring Order and Control policy, the new “core protection” status replaces the previous five-year period of leave for newly recognised refugees. As the government has introduced these changes with a form of secondary legislation called a statutory instrument – the only opportunity MPs may have to challenge them is by gathering enough signatures on a motion tabled by Stella Creasy MP – EDM 2908.
Take action:
- Use this easy letter-writing tool to ask your MP to add their signatures to EDM 2908 and challenge the government’s new temporary refugee status plans that would see people threatened with deportation every 30 months. Share this tool amongst your networks and encourage others to urge their own MPs to take action too.
- Another way refugees are being threatened with limbo is via the government’s proposed changes to ILR that could see refugees waiting 20+ years for settlement. Sign and share the refugee-led petition opposing these changes that is continuing to gather momentum, and add your name to Praxis’ open letter to the Home Secretary following the recent mass lobby of parliament.
New Fight for Asylum Rights resources
To support partners in responding to the volume and speed of assaults on asylum rights brought forward by government there are a range of new resources on the Fight for Asylum Rights website. There is a new Resource Directory page that collates a range of advice, guidance, campaigning tools and policy and advocacy reports and briefings relating to different aspects of anti-refugee legislation and policy introduced since 2024. If partners have resources they would like added to this page for others to use, please contact [email protected]. There is also a new-look Take Action page on the Fight for Asylum Rights website, which includes a range of campaign actions you and your networks can take, including a write to your MP tool on border violence, a write to your MP tool on dangerous anti-migrant rhetoric, and resources on how to engage your local council in the fight for asylum rights.
The real cost of our border violence and its impact on children
New evidence from Project Play and Humans for Rights Network reveals the real cost of UK-funded border security, which played a role in the deaths of 22 children over the last two years. These reports, Nowhere Safe and You can’t stay, but you can’t go, show how aggressive policing and constant evictions are putting vulnerable lives at risk.
Take action:
- Back the Stop Border Violence campaign and demand a statutory inquiry into the UK’s role in violence and deaths at the border by adding your name to this petition.
Consultation – Family Returns: Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns
The Home Office is consulting on family returns when they are refused asylum or ARE. The proposals relate to removing support from refused families, individuals and care leavers, akin to the 2016 Immigration Act provisions. Here is the consultation document published on the Parliament website. It was announced on 5th March and runs until 28th May. The proposals include:
- Removing support from refused families after 90 days from refusal.
- Repealing Section 4 support and replace it with Section 95A, which people can receive if they can prove a genuine obstacle to them being removed from the UK, but this can only be applied for in the 90 days (post refusal for families), and for individuals, it’s in the 21 days after refusal. There is no right of appeal on this.
- If they are not able to receive this support, all support from the Home Office ceases.
- The proposals also change the way local authorities (in England) should assess the need for social services support in an attempt to reduce the safeguards of Section 17 of the Children Act. The Home Office will guide who can be supported, while local authorities will be the body providing support. These rules will also cover all families without status, not just asylum-seeking families.
- It will remove additional support to refused care leavers as outlined in the Children Act.
- The second part of the consultation discusses how and when they will be allowed to use force on children to ensure enforced family deportations go ahead. This includes hand-cuffing children.
We feel it is important for as many organisations to respond to this, and we are working with partners to create a template/guide. This will come out in due course.
Local authorities are also key stakeholders who need to respond. In a letter to HAC, also published on the Parliament website here, the Immigration Minister states that they will seek views from local authorities. The consultation runs through the pre-election period for local elections, which may affect local authorities’ ability to submit to it. Therefore, we encourage partners to share with their local authority contacts and if they are struggling to respond in time, to raise these concerns with their Strategic Migration Partnership (SMP) and the Home Office.
APPGs’ call for evidence: impact of recent immigration and asylum rule changes on poverty
The All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) on Migration and on Poverty and Inequality have launched a new Call for Evidence inviting submissions of new evidence on the potential impact of recent changes to UK immigration and asylum rules on poverty in the UK. Deadline for submissions is midnight Tuesday 14th April 2026. Please send your submissions to [email protected].
Change to working rights rules
Skilled professionals seeking asylum now have a greater chance to work in the UK – but the fight for real, viable working rights for everyone seeking safety goes on. From March 26, people granted permission to work after waiting over 12 months for an asylum decision will be able to take up roles which appear on the Appendix Skilled Occupations list and are categorised by the Government as degree-level roles (RQF 6 or higher).
It means some skilled professionals including doctors, nurses, solicitors, architects and engineers seeking asylum will be able to seek work in the UK.
It’s always good to see more occupations open to people in the asylum system. But the high skills threshold expected could prevent many people from finding work while they wait for a decision. The reality remains that the majority of people seeking asylum in the UK remain banned from working. The ability to work and rebuild your life with independence and dignity shouldn’t be an exception granted to a few people – it should be the rule.
For more information, Free Movement have updated their explainer on working rights in the asylum system here.
Ask your MP to attend an upcoming Lift the Ban parliamentary roundtable event
There’s one clear way for the Government to benefit refugees and communities, and boost GDP by £1.6bn: extend the right to work to anyone who has waited six months for an asylum decision. Lifting the ban would benefit local economies and cut the cost of the asylum system, ensuring proper support is available for those people seeking asylum who need it.
We need to make sure the Government hears this argument. That’s why we’re bringing experts in economics, business and employment rights together with those with lived experience of the asylum system to a roundtable event with the APPG for Migration in Parliament on the 27th April, to present the overwhelming evidence for a real end to the ban.
Take action:
- Use this easy letter-writing tool to invite your MP to the event. It only takes a few minutes, and will help make sure our leaders understand why it’s time to Lift The Ban for good. The tool also asks them to sign EDM 2908 that opposes another nonsensical policy which will make it harder for people seeking safety to integrate and find employment.
‘Votes for All’ mass lobby of parliament on 20th April
On voter registration day ahead of the upcoming local elections, the Migrant Democracy Project are organising a mass lobby event in Parliament. Join them in parliament on the 20th April to speak to your MP about votes for all. If you’ve never attended a mass lobby, MDP will provide you with everything you need to feel confident attending, including template emails you can send to your MP, and briefing calls with those attending. Sign up here.
2. Government and Parliamentary updates
Government consultation launched on new appeals body
The government has launched a call for evidence on its new ‘Independent Appeals Body’. This call for evidence is aimed at individuals and organisations with expertise or experience of the UK immigration and asylum appeals system, including regulators, legal professionals, representative organisations, charities and NGOs, public services, academics and other stakeholders with relevant insight. This call for evidence is open from 00:01am on 25 March 2026 and will close at 11:59pm on 22 April 2026. Respondents can use the online form here or email [email protected].
‘Motions to regret’ new immigration rule changes introduced in the House of Lords
Lord German and Lord Dubs have each tabled motions for the House of Lords to ‘regret’ the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC1691), published on 5 March by the Home Secretary, which introduced a new temporary refugee status with claims reviewed every 30 months. These motions condemning this government policy are scheduled for debate on 14th April 2026.
Recent Westminster Hall debate on ‘earned settlement’
A Westminster Hall debate on the government’s proposed ‘earned settlement’ immigration reforms took place on Tuesday 17th March, secured by Pete Wishart MP. MPs across different political parties expressed concerns about the earned settlement proposals brought forward by government, and the debate transcript can be found here.
3. Reports and research
Research finds new settlement proposals threaten to keep 90,000 children in poverty
New independent analysis commissioned by the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Partnership and carried out by Landman Economics and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) estimates that the Home Office’s proposed ‘earned settlement’ rules could prolong poverty for up to 90,000 children of migrant workers by 2029. Separate analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that more than 300,000 children currently living in the UK could be pushed onto a longer route to settlement under the new Home Office policy. Read more here.
Not a Stranger campaign report
A new survey report conducted by Migrants’ Rights Network in collaboration with the migrant-led Not a Stranger campaign reveals the devastating human impact of the UK Government’s proposed “earned settlement” immigration system. The research shows that the proposals are causing widespread psychological distress, financial insecurity, and a crisis of belonging among migrants, including refugees across the UK. Find the full report here.
State of HATE 2026 report
HOPE not hate’s new report report “State of Hate 2026: It Could Happen Here” is now available to download and read here.
4. Resources, events, jobs and training
Report launch event – Thursday 26th March, 5:30 -7:00 – Humans for Rights Network research on border violence
Join Humans for Rights Network on Thursday 26th March at 5:30 to discuss their recently published report, ‘You Can’t Stay, but You Can’t Go’: State Violence at the UK-France Border. Project Play France will also present their research on the specific impacts of border violence against children. Sign up to attend here.
Together with Refugees webinar
Together With Refugees are hosting a webinar on 1st April introducing the Stronger Together strategy and sharing how organisations and communities can take part in A Million Acts of Hope, a week of action celebrating solidarity with refugees. Sign up here.
State of Hate 2026: Communities Briefing
Join HOPE not hate for an online community meeting where they’ll present their State of Hate 2026 report, with the latest intelligence and updates on far-right activity in the UK today. The briefing will take place on Tuesday 31st March from 11-12:15. Register here.
Jobs:
- Our friends at Assist in Sheffield are recruiting for a caseworker closing on 30th March, more details here
- DPIA is currently recruiting for a Finance and Administration Officer. The role is 3 days per week on a 2‑year fixed‑term contract, with a salary of £25,000–£28,000 (full‑time equivalent, depending on experience). Closes 4th April.
5. What we’re reading, watching and listening to
- From Manchester to Westminster – a journey of voices and hope tells of the strength, resilience, joy, and impact experienced on a trip to Westminster to let MPs know about the impact of the Government’s proposals on settlement.
- This piece on the “enduring spirit” of the people who were placed on the Bibby Stockholm and their bonds with the “amazing, special people” of Portland Global Friendship Group which sustained them during their time there.
- This piece about a refugee living in Gateshead slamming the government’s new settlement plans as “inhumane”.
