When I think about social justice, I think about equality, access, fairness, and rights. Social justice is at the core of JRS’s work and mission, and the Legal Team at JRS UK was born out of a recognised need for access to quality legal advice. The people who access JRS UK’s services have all had their asylum claims refused and exhausted any available court options.
The UK’s legal immigration system is complex, and people frequently encounter hostility, prejudice and bias whilst moving through it. Having been through the emotional turmoil of re-living what caused someone to leave their home country, people are then faced with restrictions on their rights and liberties whilst their case is considered and, further, when their claim is refused.
Amidst this landscape, JRS UK provides a safe and supportive space where people can build friendships, take part in activities, access provisions, and seek support. The holistic approach to our work means people are listened to and understood – this is not always the treatment people have received elsewhere.
In the Legal Team, we see cases for asylum which have been adversely affected from the start by poor or unavailable legal advice; hostile interviewers; ineffective interpreters; and biased decision making. An answer given to a question on the day someone arrives in the UK (frequently after a long and tiring journey) can ultimately impact the outcome of their case for its entirety. Restrictions on access to legal advice and support mean that these cases are not commenced on an equal footing from the start.
Painting the bigger picture, it is not just individual case challenges that need to be considered, but also the political environment which they land within. Legal and political developments appear rapid at present, including the introduction of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (NABA), the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (IMA), and further amendments and appendices to the lengthy Immigration Rules. These pieces of legislation will impact people seeking protection in the UK including, but not limited to, whether asylum cases will be considered at all; whether people can be removed and, if so, where to; and where people cannot be removed, where they will be accommodated. These laws directly impact social justice by restricting access to our legal system; restricting access to adequate accommodation; depriving liberty through increased powers of detention; and enforcing destitution by increasing barriers to support.
Whilst there are people and organisations, including JRS UK, advocating for the rights of others – as the legal landscape becomes increasingly restrictive, so too do the limits of legal advocacy in relation to social justice. These developments and restrictions will not stop our advocacy efforts, or the time and focus that we apply to our cases, but they can lead to further hurdles in cases where there have already been far too many.
The Legal Team at JRS UK works collaboratively within the organisation and with external partners, to ensure that people receive the best support and advice they can. Together, we are able to help people who may otherwise struggle to access the support they need.
The refugee sector and the public sector are struggling due to cuts, which impact access to many important aspects such as accommodation, food, medical advice and support, legal advice, and community – all which play a vital part in relation to wellbeing and protection, and therefore impact people’s ability to engage with services.
By supporting the Lent Appeal, you can help JRS UK to continue to provide food, hardship grants, legal advice and other vital services whilst restoring dignity within a warm, loving community to those who aren’t getting they need elsewhere.
Donate to the JRS UK 2024 Lent Appeal
The Legal Team at JRS UK does not have a legal aid contract and therefore is in a unique position to advise people on a pro bono basis. However, if cases require crucial evidence (such as an expert report), it has become increasingly difficult to refer them to external legally aided representatives due to the lack of resource and capacity within the sector. A further restriction is that legal aid does not cover all types of immigration, asylum, citizenship and NRM (National Referral Mechanism) matters.
JRS UK recognises the importance of social justice and focuses on providing a meaningful way for people to access support, which is informed both by what they have experienced before coming to the UK, and through the brutalising effects of the process that is forced upon them.
