- Advocacy and campaigning Initiatives
- Government and Parliamentary updates
- Reports and research
- Resources, events, jobs and training
- What we’re reading, watching and listening to
- Advocacy and campaigning Initiatives
Fight for Asylum Rights
As you will know, we have campaigned under the banner of ‘Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws’ since the Nationality and Borders Act in 2022, but we have now re-branded this campaign as ‘Fight for Asylum Rights’. Under this new banner, we will continue to campaign for the repeal of harmful anti-refugee legislation, and campaign for a compassionate refugee protection system. Find out more on our new campaign website here. We’ll be populating it with new resources in the coming weeks, so watch this space…
The new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill had its first reading in Parliament last week, and it marks an escalation in the criminalisation of asylum seekers, the extension of detention powers, and the erosion of their rights. Prioritising enforcement and punishment over protection, the bill reinforces the harmful narrative that seeking safety through irregular routes is a crime and even criminalises humanitarian aid. It expands detention powers, increasing the risk of indefinite detention in centres already known for poor conditions and human rights abuses. Deportation pathways are also being strengthened, potentially leading to mass removals of asylum seekers before they have had a fair chance to present their claims. What’s included in the bill is a continuation of failed Tory border securitisation and criminalisation policies that will stop no boats, smash no gangs, but will cost more lives in the Channel.
It’s striking however to note what’s not in this so-called asylum bill, and that’s a single new policy on asylum. Nothing on accommodation, nothing on working rights, nothing on asylum support rates. As we respond to this bill as it progresses through parliament, we will be making the positive case for a compassionate refugee system. We are equipping campaigners with advocacy tools, digital assets, and MP engagement templates while ensuring that those directly affected remain at the heart of our campaign to fight for asylum rights.
Further explanation of the bill can be found here, with some initial responses from sector leaders found here.
TAKE ACTION:
-
Use our media briefing that will be updated as the situation develops and the bill progresses to respond to the bill
-
Share this template letter to MPs with your networks ahead of the Second Reading of the borders bill on Monday
Communities Not Camps
The empty Bibby Stockholm barge has finally left Portland, prompting reflection in the community and having cost at least £34.8 million. Meanwhile, in an echo of an incident which prompted the evacuation of the barge in 2023, Freedom of Information requests have now revealed that ‘alarming’ levels of legionella bacteria were present at the Wethersfield camp in Essex between August 2023 and October 2024. Charities working around the site report that no public health advice was given to people placed there and have reiterated calls to close the facility immediately. Meanwhile, residents of the camp have spoken out, with one resident, Zainab, saying: ‘I have no sleep because I feel like I am in prison, we go outside to come back. It’s like mental torture.’
Petition: Shorten residency period for undocumented migrants to apply to regularise status
RegulaRise have set up a Government petition calling for more accessible and affordable regularisation for undocumented people, and shorter, safer settlement and citizenship pathways for all migrants. They have until 2 June 2025 to secure 10,000 signatures for a government response, and 100,000 signatures to trigger a parliamentary debate. Sign the petition here.
Lift the Ban
We have heaps of exciting actions and plans coming up for the Lift the Ban campaign for the right to work for people seeking asylum. If you’re not already on the mailing list, you can sign up for coalition updates and find out how to get involved by emailing [email protected].
2. Government and Parliamentary updates
Public Accounts Committee report on Home Office acquisition of former HMP Northeye
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has issued its report on the Home Office’s acquisition of HMP Northeye in Bexhill-on-Sea, originally intended as one the previous Government’s ‘large scale’ sites in plans that have since been scrapped.
Northeye was purchased by the Home Office with £15.4m of public money – more than double what its owners had paid for it a year previously, bypassing established processes and with significant repairs and remediation work required. The report finds that the acquisition of the site was ‘disastrously managed’, and points to ‘a dysfunctional culture at the Home Office in which ‘value for money was a secondary concern.’ Coverage here and here
Preferred candidate for ICIBI
The Home Secretary has named her preferred candidate as the next Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration – John Tuckett, who is currently the Immigration Services Commissioner.
Civil legal aid: Towards a sustainable future Consultation
This consultation considers increases to civil legal aid fees for Housing and Debt work, and Immigration and Asylum work. It closes at 11:59pm on 21 March 2025. All information and online consultation survey can be accessed here.
APPG on Refugees Safe and Legal Routes Report
The APPG on Refugees have today released the Safe and Legal Routes Inquiry report following an inquiry into safe and legal routes. The report has been endorsed by 16 members of the APPG from both Houses and most of the main parties. Taking evidence from experts, refugees and international best practice, the report recommends:
-
Improving refugee family reunion
-
Restoring the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) as the primary resettlement route to the UK and fix issues with existing nationality specific schemes
-
Introducing a Pilot Refugee Visa Scheme by the end of this Parliament:
- Reports and research
Just Fair – submission to the UNCESCR
Just Fair have published their submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) – on the state of everyday human rights in the UK, compiled from evidence provided by over 30 civil society organisations, along with a joint statement signed by 70 organisations across the UK, including Asylum Matters. We also submitted evidence on asylum poverty and from the Lift the Ban Coalition. Read the submission and the statement here
Just Fair has an in person only event in London on 13 March where they will be joined by Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. Please book your space here
Migrant Women in Business Report Launch event
Leeds University Business School and Migration Yorkshire is launching their new report ‘Migrant Women in Business’, funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The launch will take place online on Thursday, February 13th, from 13:00-14.30. You can register via this Eventbrite page. The ‘Migrant Women in Business’ project supported 25 aspiring migrant women entrepreneurs in West Yorkshire between November 2023 and August 2024.
Research on Local Government Representation
The Social Equity Centre is conducting research exploring migrant representation and workforce diversity in local councils. They are asking migrants living in the UK to share your thoughts on, representation in decision-making, diversity in the public sector workforce, and experiences or interest in public sector roles. Take the survey here.
4. Resources, events, jobs and training
Right to Remain -Thinking with our communities – detention and beyond – Sheffield
On Saturday 8 February 2025, t Right to Remain are teaming up with SYMAAG (South Yorkshire Migration Asylum Action Group) and MRG (Migration Research Group) to host a solidarity gathering in Sheffield. Register here.
Refugee Week Conference 26th February 2025 (online) 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
For those who want to get involved this year this conference will give more information and launch this year’s theme ‘Community is a Superpower’ Register for your free place here
Migrant Voice 15th Anniversary Conference 27-28 February – London
This event will have a number of panel discussions, workshops and training to address the challenges for migrants’ rights, and changing the way migration is discussed. Register your interest here
Survey: Know Your Rights
Migrant Rights Network are currently updating our Know Your Rights Guide and is inviting anyone with lived experience of migration to provide feedback on the Guide and on access to information more generally. You can complete the survey here, the deadline is by Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 9am.
Jobs:
-
ILPA is recruiting for Legal Officer Deadline: 9:00am on Monday, 24 February 2025
-
Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network is recruiting for a Campaigns and Communications Officer. Deadline 9am 7th February 2025
-
Women for Refugee Women is recruiting for a Policy and Research Manager. Deadline 24 February
-
Suffolk Refugee Support is recruiting a Housing Advice Worker. Deadline 12 noon on 25th February 2025.
-
NEON is recruiting for a Press officer (to cover 6 month sabbatical). Deadline 16th February
-
HIAS + JCORE are recruiting for an Administrator, an Advocacy Coordinator and a Community Engagement Specialist Deadline 10th February
5. What we’re reading, watching and listening to
Home Office ‘refuses to believe Kenyan asylum seeker is a lesbian’ Virginia’s story of having to flee her home country and claim asylum in the UK, only to be disbelieved. She is now running a campaign #WeAreVirginia to stay in the UK.
Zoe Gardner is in the Byline Times exploring the right-wing media’s false claim that one in twelve Londoners are ‘illegal migrants’ as a ‘deliberate attempt to mislead the public.’
Nathan Phillips in the Byline Times on the new borders bill that will stop no boats and win no votes but will cost lives.
