Statement on the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill

The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, which will enable the government to repeal freedom of movement and associated rights of EU nationals, is an attack on human rights. We stand against the bill and this progression of the government’s hostile environment.

The Windrush scandal showcased the depth of the violence created by hostile environment policies to great public outrage. The new Immigration Bill and accompanying White Paper demonstrate that the government nevertheless remains shameless in seeking to broaden its power to destroy and disrupt the lives of ordinary people. It clearly intends to continue the worst aspects of the hostile environment, couched in the language of ‘eligibility’ and ‘compliance’.

In our view the provisions of this Bill, and many aspects of the immigration system in general, are not compatible with the fundamental rights to privacy, family life and liberty, which should be enjoyed without discrimination on any basis, including national origin.

We reject the politics and policies of dehumanisation that see people torn from their families, stripped of their liberty in detention centres, exploited in their workplaces and left fearful of accessing education or medical care.

We reject the government’s continued commitment to the cruelty of the hostile environment, immigration detention and charter flights.

And we reject the claim that any person is illegal. The cruelty of the border regime is neither necessary nor acceptable. It must be dismantled, so that we can build a society in which fundamental rights and human dignity are not slogans, but reality.

 

Signed:

Against Borders for Children

All African Women’s Group

Docs Not Cops

End Deportations

Global Justice Now

Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB)

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)

Lesbians and Gays Support Migrants (LGSM)

Med Act

Migrants Organise

Migrants Resource Centre

Migrants’ Rights Network

National Union of Students (NUS)

Right to Remain

Right 2 Work

Solidarity with Refugees

South East London Sisters Uncut

The Advocacy Academy

Unis Resist Border Controls

United Voices of the World

ACTION UPDATE: Assembly to #DropTheBill is on Monday 28th January 1pm

No Child Is Illegal
On Thursday 24th January, it was confirmed that the second reading will now take place on Monday 28th January in the afternoon. See FB event
This Bill gives the government a blank cheque to repeal the EU law that gives EU nationals and others free movement and associated rights. It also gives ministers (rather than Parliament) more powers to amend existing immigration law through regulations, which are barely scrutinised by Parliament and rarely meaningfully opposed. The British public, rightly, was outraged by the violations suffered by the Windrush generation as a result of the hostile environment. The new Immigration Bill and White Paper do not learn any of the lessons of the Windrush scandal. Instead, they continue the worst aspects of the hostile environment, couched in the language of compliance.

We strongly believe it’s important that that MPs hear our views and feel the heat from outside Parliament from the outset of this process.

Therefore, we are organising a very short demo with other grassroots groups next to George V statue at Old Palace Yard, College Green on Monday 28th 1-2pm to coincide with the Second Reading of the Immigration Bill, with a big photo at 1:15/1:30.

The aim is to reframe conversation about the Bill in terms of defending migrants’ rights, ending the hostile environment, and putting the injustices of Windrush right.

The more people, banners, and placards the better – so please do join us on Monday!

ACTION ALERT: Immigration Bill demonstration Mon 28th Jan 1-2pm College Green

The No Confidence Motion on Wednesday 16th January resulted in the suspension of the second reading of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill (you can read it here ).
On Thursday 24th January, it was confirmed that the second reading will now take place on Monday 28th January in the afternoon.
This Bill gives the government a blank cheque to repeal the EU law that gives EU nationals and others free movement and associated rights. It also gives ministers (rather than Parliament) more powers to amend existing immigration law through regulations, which are barely scrutinised by Parliament and rarely meaningfully opposed. The British public, rightly, was outraged by the violations suffered by the Windrush generation as a result of the hostile environment. The new Immigration Bill and White Paper do not learn any of the lessons of the Windrush scandal. Instead, they continue the worst aspects of the hostile environment, couched in the language of compliance.

We strongly believe it’s important that that MPs hear our views and feel the heat from outside Parliament from the outset of this process.

Therefore, we are organising a very short demo with other grassroots groups next to George V statue at Old Palace Yard, College Green on Monday 28th 1-2pm to coincide with the Second Reading of the Immigration Bill, with a big photo at 1:15/1:30.

The aim is to reframe conversation about the Bill in terms of defending migrants’ rights, ending the hostile environment, and putting the injustices of Windrush right.

The more people, banners, and placards the better – so please do join us on Monday!