GDWG Statement on the passing of the ‘Illegal Migration Bill’

If you are a child migrant arriving in the UK in the months ahead, if you are a victim of modern slavery or someone who has been trafficked to the UK and you reach our shores, your future in the UK will be bleak whatever your reason for seeking safety. There will be no access to asylum as we have known it.

The Illegal Migration Bill passed the Commons and Lords yesterday and will become an Act of Parliament on Thursday. It represents a violation of the UK’s obligations under human rights and refugee law and will create a permanent asylum backlog and acute suffering for many people that will be framed by limbo years of destitution.

A future without detention is more out of reach today. Our volunteer visiting will be more needed, and our work together is going to be harder. Walking is more necessary. International solidarity is crucial.

It is going to be essential for all people of conscience including writers, artists, faith leaders, philosophers, and every person who recognises the terrible cruelty to work together in every way they can to build community responses that defy ice-hearted denials of human response to need. This is the lowest point. If the UK does not step back from this tragic choice, others will follow. 

Let this be a moment where we look at what has been done this week in our name, what it says about us all and draw collective breath and strength to take us away from the brink in our individual and collective responses. We shall keep listening, visiting, supporting, caring, walking, sharing, calling for change. Thank you for your support in the months to come.