ANTICIPATORY POLICY CHANGE ON UK IMMIGRATION 2024

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British Prime Minister, Mr Keir Starmer

Hundreds of refugees and human rights organizations have written to Keir Starmer, with a blueprint for asylum policy which urges him to change course from the policies of the previous government.

The letter, which includes signatories from 300 civil society organizations, along with 534 individuals working with migrants, says the existing policy is “fundamentally broken”.

It sets out nine key demands, which if adopted by the Labour government would signal a change of direction on one of the most controversial and high-profile policy areas of the last government.

Successive pieces of unworkable, cruel legislation have effectively extinguished the right to seek asylum in the UK, creating an ever-growing ‘perma-backlog’ of tens of thousands of people. Some are being retraumatized in open prison camps on barracks or barges.

“Others are left in overcrowded hostels with their mental health deteriorating whilst they are banned from finding employment. And Channel fatalities are at unthinkable levels, with a 450% increase in deaths at our border in the past 12 months.”

Signatories include the Refugee Council, Refugee Action, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and branches of Citizens Advice.

Key demands include:

Restore the right to seek asylum in the UK in line with international law, by repealing the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act.
Open safe routes for people seeking asylum to reach the UK so that people are not forced to risk their lives in the Channel, including providing visa routes, enabling families to reunite safely, and rebuilding refugee resettlement.
House people seeking asylum in communities, not camps, and close down all institutional accommodation including barracks, barges, hotels and hostels, which cause unnecessary lasting harm, at an eye-watering cost to the taxpayer.
Restore the right to work for people seeking asylum within six months of arrival so people can rebuild their lives in dignity and contribute £1.2bn to the UK economy.

Dr George Ogunjimi
Human Rights Advocate
Principal
Juris Republic
Hertfordshire, UK
10/07/2024.