UK immigration strategy increases risk of exploitation, say charities

The government’s policy of ramping up immigration raids and detaining and deporting undocumented migrants is driving more people underground and increasing their risks of exploitation, dozens of charities have warned.

In a letter on Friday, coordinated by Migrant Voice, more than 80 organisations including Care4Calais, City of Sanctuary UK, Anti-Slavery International, Doctors of the World UK and Safe Passage International are calling on the home secretary to make it easier for undocumented migrants to regularise their immigration status so they can work with less risk of falling prey to exploitative employers and human trafficking gangs.

On 27 August, the Home Office announced it had conducted a week-long “intensive operation” into illegal working with 275 premises targeted, 135 of them receiving notices for employing illegal workers.

Although the government says it wants to protect vulnerable people exploited by unscrupulous employers, 85 “illegal workers” were detained in the operation.

“While this operation marks an important step forward, our commitment to tackling this issue is ongoing. We will ensure those who break the rules face the full force of the law,” the home secretary said.

The government deported more than 200 people to Brazil this month, the largest single deportation on record. Since Labour came to power there have been at least nine deportation charter flights.

Nazek Ramadan, the director of Migrant Voice, said: “Immigration raids and deportations do not address the fundamental issue that the majority of those who become undocumented in the UK do so through no fault of their own.

“Issues such as errors on paperwork or a lack of communication from the Home Office can lead to people who have lived in the UK for decades losing status overnight.

“Rather than penalising people for becoming undocumented, this government must take a new approach and create simpler routes for them to regain a documented status.”

Many undocumented individuals have lived in the UK for years or even decades and have established lives and families there. The letter states that a policy of regularisation would cost less than policies of detention and deportation and boost economic growth through increasing the number of people, who are already here, being able to contribute more to the economy.

Ramadan added: “People don’t feel safe. The raids are very traumatising for them. People who are already vulnerable are becoming more vulnerable and are going further underground. We are seeing more and more raids on businesses and homes.

“This government has made it clear they want to deport a larger number of people. Many governments have tried and failed with this policy. They think the only way forward is to be tough. Regularisation is a better solution. It allows people to come out of the shadows and live a normal life.

“We want the new government to adopt a new way of thinking about this. It’s time to change the narrative. Migration is normal.”

The Home Office has been approached for comment