'Indefinite Leave To Remain' for people who are undocumented, destitute, and those in the legal process #HealthAndSafetyForAll
From StatusNow4All signatory, Migrants at Work: The well-rehearsed narrative the government has been feeding us for decades is that we, migrants, are vulnerable to labour exploitation because of our immigration status.
Continue reading “Event 8 June 2021: Home-grown Slavery”Updated 17 May 2021: We begin with the Guardian article: Cruel, paranoid, failing: inside the Home Office, followed by articles regarding the successful Glasgow action yesterday in securing the release of two men from a Borders & Immigration van from Positive Action of Housing; and the BBC. There is also a more recent article about the dawn raid that was not witnessed.
Guardian Cruel, paranoid, failing: inside the Home Office
For the thousands of people who end up on the wrong side of the Home Office each year, there is often a sudden moment of disbelief. This can’t be happening, people tell themselves. They can’t do this, can they? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/13/cruel-paranoid-failing-priti-patel-inside-the-home-office
Continue reading “Anti-Deportation Protesters Block Immigration Van From Leaving Glasgow Street”Time-served prisoners!
16 May 2021: Guardian: Torture victims kept in solitary by Home Office for up to a year
Immigration detainees left desperate and suicidal after being held in prisons during the pandemic
The Home Office has pursued a policy of psychological brutality by locking up scores of torture survivors in solitary confinement for indefinite periods, according to fresh testimony from immigration detainees.
Continue reading “BID raises concerns on the use of prolonged solitary confinement in immigration detention”January 2021: BBC: Channel migrants: Iranian jailed for piloting two dinghies
‘Following the sentencing, the Home Office’s Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahoney said Kakaei’s actions “risked lives” and the prosecution “put a stop to that cycle of criminality”.
This is what the New Plan for Immigration rests on, calling people seeking asylum ‘criminals’, but on retrial:
14 May 2021: Guardian: Iranian asylum seeker cleared of Channel smuggling charges
Man who took turn steering boat ‘because he didn’t want to die’ freed, with case opening way for others to appeal their sentences
An asylum seeker jailed on smuggling charges for helping to steer a boat filled with migrants from France to England has had his conviction overturned at a retrial after spending 17 months in jail.
Continue reading “Court says: This man is not a criminal”Equality and Human Rights Commission: Immigration – UK Government assessment
Progress assessment: Regression
There has been a sustained or severe regression in the enjoyment of human rights, or a significant reduction in human rights standards or protections in law or policy
The UK Government’s ‘hostile environment’ policies marked a significant reduction in human rights protections in the UK, and inflicted lasting damage on those affected by them, receiving widespread criticism. Recent changes to reduce the use of immigration detention are welcome, but the UK Government continues to detain a significant number of people and there is still no limit on how long someone can be detained. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted concerns about conditions in immigration removal centres, prompting important new measures, although it is not yet clear whether these will be retained as restrictions ease.
StatusNow4All welcomes the following EDM #7, and we remind readers of EDM #1442: https://statusnow4all.org/edm-1442-undocumented-migrants-and-covid-19-vaccination/
EDM #7: That this House recognises that there are many barriers that prevent people from accessing and maintaining stable immigration status even when they were either born in the UK or have lived in the UK for many years; further recognises that the majority of undocumented migrants have lost their status through no fault of their own, including through an inability to pay application fees, lack of access to legal advice, mistakes on the part of decision-makers and complexity of immigration rules; understands that the harm done to individuals through hostile immigration policies extends to family members and the communities that they are part of; notes that the UK has one of the most complex and expensive routes to regularisation in Europe; further notes that all current routes to regularisation and settlement are far too long, complicated and inflexible, leaving people with no options but to live undocumented; understands that migrants who do not have access to the public safety net or the right to work are vulnerable to exploitation and; and calls on the Government to support recommendations made by Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in its report, We Are Here: routes to regularisation for the UK’s undocumented population, published in April 2021 by introducing new routes to regularisation and removing barriers which cause migrants to become undocumented.
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/58432
Continue reading “EDM #7 – Regularisation of undocumented migrants”Updated 10 May 2021: Racism in action: Guardian: Celebrities unite to back #StopAsianHate campaign
Marvel film stars Gemma Chan and Benedict Wong among prominent east and south-east Asian people taking action on UK’s wave of Covid-related sinophobia
The Marvel film star Gemma Chan has revealed that she is frightened for her family in the UK after a surge in hate crimes against Chinese, Japanese and south-east Asian people.
Continue reading “IRR: Sewell report seeks to sideline structural factors attached to racism”This poster can be used for educational purposes. It’s message reminds us that the earth is not ours to ‘buy and sell for private gain. You poor take courage
You rich take care, This earth was made a common treasury For everyone to share‘ (Billy Bragg: The World Turned Upside Down)
… but the UK Government is using its power to steal and entice prestigious award winners from other countries whom it deems to be useful for UK, whilst destroying lives of others who are already here, all of whom have something to offer, given the chance. The call for StatusNow4All is absolutely relevant in these times of injustice.
From Loraine: Recently when I was interviewed for a short documentary out in June, the man asked – some refugees have done great things. I corrected him because it’s not about great things, it’s about having a second chance at your life. Its about being able to live freely like everyone else. We can’t push every refugee to be a superhero (if at all it exists) in order to be accepted. Accept us as human beings. Why is that hard?
Evening Standard: India to take back illegal migrants in return for UK visas for young workers
The UK and India have signed an agreement for the Asian country to take back illegal migrants in return for visas for young workers.
Continue reading “The call for StatusNow4All is absolutely relevant in these times of injustice”RAPAR: You can read the letter here:
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/65594499/rapar-housing-campaign-letter-to-mp
28 April 2021: Aljazeera: Racism on the frontline: Britain’s Asian healthcare workers
Racist abuse of Asian healthcare workers is reportedly on the rise as they risk their lives in the fight against COVID.
Read more here: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/4/27/under-fire-on-the-frontline-britains-asian-healthcare-workers
See also the petition below
Continue reading “End the virus of racism”26 April 2021: From Mariko Hayashi, Director of SN$A signatory organisation Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC): “The UK is one of the major destinations of victims of human trafficking from Vietnam, which was the third most common nationality of all referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) as potential victims in 2020. The figures show that between 2018 and 2020, in only three years, 2,242 Vietnamese people have been identified as potential victims of human trafficking. I am very concerned that some of the individuals removed from the UK without proper due process could have been victims of human trafficking.
The hostile environment policies and border securitisation, which often criminalise migrants who are vulnerable to exploitation, perpetuate violation of human rights and even put these migrants at risk of being re-trafficked.”
Continue reading “Enforced removals to Vietnam risks re-trafficking”Guardian: Home Office sued by asylum seeker over baby’s death
Woman claims asylum housing staff ignored pleas for help when she was in pain while 35 weeks pregnant
A woman whose baby died is suing the Home Office for negligence over claims that staff at her asylum accommodation refused to call an ambulance when she was pregnant and bleeding.
Continue reading “Home Office sued by asylum seeker over baby’s death”21 April 2021: European Network on Statelessness: Situation assessment of statelessness, health, and COVID-19 in Europe
Prof van Hout and Charlotte Bigland from LJMU, the authors of this report, will be leading SNN International Public Health Working Group. Prof Van Hout says:
“There is a divide between the State obligation to assure the rights of all to healthcare, including the non-discrimination provisions where no one can be excluded in the COVID-19 health response; and the real world situation for the stateless who experience significant social and structural barriers to access of healthcare, not least exacerbated by institutional fear around data sharing with immigration. This is likely to impact most now given the imperatives to scale up and include all in COVID-19 vaccination roll out. NGOs will be crucial in supporting the practicalities around logistics in vaccinations and support of those who are marginalized and hidden.”
Continue reading “Situation assessment of statelessness, health, and COVID-19 in Europe”People who are undocumented are at real risk of being sucked into abusive relationships in order to survive, and once there, it is very very difficult to leave.
Women’s Aid: Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
At this time of Covid-19, people subjected to domestic abuse are very isolated, and have fewer chances to leave the house, for example children are not at school, shopping is kept to a minimum; and tensions indoors mount.
We know that people subjected to such abuse are often frequently lied to about being believed, or they are told their children will be removed, that their whereabouts will be reported to the Home Office which will potentially lead to the risk of immigration detention and removal from UK in this hostile environment, and they now are fearful of breaking Covid lockdown rules.
The impact of the ‘toxic trio’ of drug abuse, mental health issues and alcohol is well-known to raise concerns about risk of domestic abuse. When undocumented status is added to this toxic mix, the potential for ongoing serious risk of harm is massively increased.
16 April 2021: Guardian: Anger as Tory MPs vote against register for stalkers and domestic abusers
Government rejects measures despite briefing they would support them after death of Sarah Everard
Continue reading “Covid-19 And The Surge In Domestic Abuse In The UK”