As key parts of the Nationality and Borders Act come into force, more people will be pushed into poverty and homelessness
Olivia, Praxis' Service User Representative and a member of the NRPF action group, has lived experience of the immigration system. In this piece, she reflects on the impact of key parts of the Nationality and Borders Act coming into force, what that means for people seeking safety and what we can do to resist the Act.
As someone with experience of the immigration system myself, I know that the impact of the Nationality and Borders Act on people seeking safety in this country will be huge. Despite months of parliamentary debate, challenges in the House of Lords and tireless campaigning, the Act received royal assent in April 2022. As of 28th June, key parts of it will come into force.
Even though the Government argues that this law aims to ‘fix the system,’ in reality it does the opposite. Not only does it not address the major problems with the asylum system, it also creates a whole host of further problems.
It does nothing to create more safe routes for people who are seeking safety in the UK. It’s widely known now that there simply are no avenues to safely reach the UK available to the vast majority of people fleeing conflict and persecution, with a few notable exceptions, including those fleeing Ukraine.
“What this will mean is that refugees who had to risk their lives to reach the UK won’t be able to rely on public support - just as they’re trying to rebuild their lives after fleeing persecution, conflict or torture. ”
While the Government is doing its best to keep black and brown refugees out of the country, those who do make it here via a route that is not sanctioned by the Government face criminal penalties, that is, if they are not first deported to Rwanda. And for people who are lucky enough to have their claims processed in the UK, and the Home Office eventually recognises them as refugees, they’ll have far fewer rights compared to those who arrive via sanctioned schemes. This is the idea of differential treatment, which is a key part of the new law that comes into force today.
What this will mean is that refugees who had to risk their lives to reach the UK won’t be able to rely on public support - just as they’re trying to rebuild their lives after fleeing persecution, conflict or torture.
They won’t be able to be reunited with their families, and they will have to keep on applying with the Home Office to renew their leave to remain - forking out thousands of pounds for each round of renewal. And all because they were left with no safe way to find sanctuary in the UK. These are people who are highly likely to have experienced trauma. They need to feel safe to be able to recover and start a new life. Instead, the Act will prevent them from accessing the vital support they need, leaving people in precarious situations.
Families who will not be able to access adequate housing and other forms of support will be left with nowhere safe to live, with no food, at risk of homelessness – how can they survive? And, worse, families will be broken up, children will be separated from their parents and their siblings.
Starting from 28th June, this new law will push even more people into poverty and homelessness.
A government that proposes this plan doesn’t see people fleeing conflict as humans. But people in power need to understand that when we cross a dangerous border – such as the English Channel - we are putting our lives at risk. No one would do it unless they felt that their life was on the line and they had no other option.
The Government rationale for these policies is that they want to deter the practice of people smuggling via unsafe routes - such as small boats crossing the Channel.
But the only solution to people smuggling is to open up more routes via which people can safely reach the UK. Without these, there will always be a market for people smuggling. If the Government really wanted to prevent people risking their lives in the Channel, one option would be to work with transit countries like France, or in places where people start their journey to safety, so that asylum applications can be processed there and to ensure safe arrival into the UK.
“As the Home Office is pushing policy after policy that endangers people’s lives, we need to stand up for ourselves and for those who are yet to come in search of safety.”
Instead, the Government is going to imprison those who make it to the UK and deport them 4,000 miles away to Rwanda – a country that many will have no connection with. The Government is trying to put smugglers out of business, yet the Rwanda plan will simply create a new market, and a much more hazardous route.
As the Home Office is pushing policy after policy that endangers people’s lives, we need to stand up for ourselves and for those who are yet to come in search of safety.
To challenge this Act, we will need more organisations getting involved, beyond the migrant and refugee sector. Trade unions, businesses, individuals, faith groups, educational institutions and schools, the whole public, including the new generations, have to come on board in support of everyone’s rights.
We have seen recently what our collective action can achieve. We managed to stop the first flight deporting people to Rwanda because so many groups from all parts of society spoke out against this injustice, including trade unions and Home Office workers. When everyone is coming in and doing their part, we can achieve authentic results.
One person on their own will be eaten by a lion, but if we are many, we will scare the lion away.
We need your support to continue resisting the inhumane practices of the Nationality and Borders Act. If you want to get involved, consider supporting us today.