Over a number of years we’ve seen a shocking rise in hostility, scapegoating and cruel policies targeting refugees and asylum seekers.

But so many of us want a different approach: one that welcomes women, men and children who come here in search of safety, treats them with dignity, and celebrates the gifts they bring.

On 4th July, the UK voted for a new government, and on 5th July a new Labour government was formed.

This is a great opportunity to build a society that welcomes people who come here seeking safety.

On this page, you’ll find more details on our asks and ways you can take action. We’ll continue updating this page with resources to equip you to make it clear to our leaders that we stand with refugees.

We have three main asks for the new government:

1. Restore the right to asylum, and ensure everyone’s claim is treated fairly
2. End immigration detention
3. End the Hostile Environment

1. Right to asylum

All of us deserve to live in safety and dignity. And, if we were ever forced from our homes, we would want the opportunity to rebuild our lives safely elsewhere.

However, for the vast majority of refugees, there are no safe routes to claiming asylum in the UK.

Despite this, legislation such as the Illegal Migration Act and Nationality and Borders Act punishes refugees for how they travel here, refusing to even examine their claims.  In fact, the Illegal Migration Act bans most refugees from ever getting sanctuary here at all.

At the same time, failure to process asylum claims fairly and quickly means that people live in legal limbo. Many people claiming asylum also struggle to access legal advice because so little is now available.

People seeking safety here are unable to resolve their asylum claims – and unable to rebuild their lives This is cruel, impractical, and destructive to the common good.

Everyone deserves the chance to seek safety. Let’s repeal the anti-refugee laws, create safe routes for people seeking sanctuary, build a system that examines all asylum claims fairly on their merits, and treats everyone in search of sanctuary as human beings and ensures asylum claimants have legal support.

2. End detention

All of us want to be treated with justice and humanity.

Every year, thousands of people are incarcerated without time limit in prison-like conditions for the purpose of administering immigration procedures. The decision to detain a person does not go before a judge.

Detention destroys lives. It is very harmful to both physical and mental health. People who have survived torture and then been detained say it’s like being tortured again.

Immigration detention violates human dignity. Abuse, neglect, and humiliation of detained people is prolific.

We don’t want to be a society that treats people like this, and there are better ways of managing migration. Indeed, the widespread use of detention is relatively new, with the immigration detention estate having expanded over the last 20 years. We should be supporting people through their asylum and immigration claims in the community.

Let’s end immigration detention.

3. End the hostile environment

Everyone wants to live safely in society, to access essential services without fear.

The ‘hostile/compliant environment’ prevents many people from doing just this purely on the basis of their immigration status. Many of them are people who came here for safety but were wrongly refused asylum and made destitute for decades before finally being recognised as having been refugees all along.

Embedding immigration enforcement into local authorities, public services, and civil society divides us against each other. It creates a culture of mistrust and bars members of our community from accessing basic necessities, such as healthcare  and accommodation.

Cut off from all support systems and barred from accessing public funds, people living in our communities are made completely destitute, left vulnerable to exploitation, even unable to seek refuge from abuse for fear of immigration control. The effects of the hostile environment wide reaching, racist, and deeply destructive. – Famously these policies have resulted in the gross mistreatment of ‘Windrush’ citizens.

The hostile environment is a toxic legacy of the previous government. We can do better. By learning from the Windrush Scandal, abolishing the hostile environment and no recourse to public funds, rules and working with local authorities on solutions, we can build a system where people seeking safety are able to live in dignity. Let’s show solidarity with others, and not lose sight of the individual.

JRS UK produces a number of publications and resources that you may find helpful if you would like to advocate on behalf of refugees, or support your parish or develop resources in schools.

Recent reports cover topics such as detention, destitution, and a just and person-centred asylum system.

See all JRS UK reports

We’ve prepared resources to help you bring the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers into your prayer.

See prayer resources

Want to support JRS UK further?

Here are some ideas of what you can do:

• Hold a fundraiser for JRS UK – a bake sale? a charity run? a raffle?;
• Write letters to people held in immigration detention;
• Organise a donation of essential items such as toiletries, food, and clothing;
• Sign up to run with TeamJRS in next year’s London Marathon!
• Invite JRS UK to come and speak!
• Check out current volunteering opportunities

For more information, please get in contact at uk@jrs.net.

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