Hello everyone,

Welcome to your February newsletter.

First, a big shout out to all LGBTQI+ migrants as we celebrate LGBTQI+ history month 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Love is Love and we proudly stand with you. 

Talking of love, we haven’t exactly been feeling it recently. You will no doubt have seen the news that the Border Security, Immigration and Asylum Bill is now making its way through Parliament. It is sparking deep concerns, as are the changes to the ‘Good Character’ Guidance. Read our full analysis below.

But no newsletter would be complete without a dose of positive news – and is now more important than ever. We are living through challenging times, but, to quote Ursula Le Guin, ‘No darkness lasts forever. And even there, there are stars.’

Follow us on insta and Bluesky to get all the latest news.

Never hesitate to contact me: [email protected]. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.

In solidarity,
Anne

WFMA News

Support Centre Update

⚠️ A reminder that the e-Visa deadline has been postponed until, 31st March 2025 and BRP’s that expired on 31st December 2024 have been extended to 31st March 2025. We will continue to update information as soon as we know more.


WFMA is growing!


Saying goodbye to Tommy

Our dear friend, Tommy Anderson, sadly passed away at the end of January. We are grateful to Clive for sharing memories of an inspiring community organiser:

“Tommy Anderson was one of the founding members of the Walthamstow Migrant Action Group, which was originally instituted to counter the English Defence League marches in Walthamstow in 2013. He was a very active member on the original managing committee, and was a keen supporter for the establishment of the Support Centre which began operations at St Saviour’s Church in Markhouse Road. He preceded Rod Holmes as tea and coffee maker! 

A committed trade unionist during his working life, he had a wonderfully stentorian Scottish voice and loved socialising at the Rose & Crown and was involved in many other community activities mainly for the retired and elderly, organising lunches and Christmas Dinners!” 


📆 Mark you diaries!



🧡 This year, Refugee Week is taking place between 16th and 22nd June, on the theme: Community as a Super Power! Keep it free and watch this space!

🥾 For now, we are inviting you to dust off your walking boots and sign up for the London Legal Walk on Tuesday 17th June. The walk is 10km through London, with multiple routes to choose from, including shorter, more accessible routes. Find out more about signing up and getting help with creating a fundraising page. It’s fun and a brilliant opportunity to raise funds for our work. Please let us know if you are planning to attend, when you have signed up or if you have any questions: [email protected].

The Border Security, Immigration and Asylum Bill

The Bill had its First and Second Reading on 31st January and 10th February, respectively. A majority of MPs voted for it to go through to Committee Stage, where it is currently being scrutinised and amendments are being proposed. It is expected that the Bill will come back to the House of Commons for third reading at the end of March, at the earliest. 

So, what does it say? 

Remember when it was announced in the King’s speech last summer, it was presented as an opportunity to ‘modernise’ the immigration system. Spoiler – it does nothing of the sort. 

Yes, there is some good news. The disastrous, unworkable Rwanda scheme is going to be scrapped – but we knew that already – and so are the worst aspects of the Illegal Migration Act, including the rules that forced unaccompanied children into accepting intrusive age assessments or allowed them to be indefinitely detained. 

BUT – the current proposal retains the last Government’s worst anti-refugee measures such as tough detention powers, with limited role of the courts, and the Home Secretary would still have power to declare so-called ‘safe’ countries, i.e. asylum claims from those counties are autonomically disallowed.

Now brace yourself for the rest of the Bill, because it is nothing short of abominable. 

🚨  The Bill frames migration as a ‘security’ threat, with an overwhelming focus on border security. People seeking asylum are framed as a danger, not as people seeking safety and protection. 

🚨 It grants powers to search, seize and retain electronic devices suspected of to contain information related to immigration crime, thereby increasing surveillance of migrant, reminiscent of counter-terror powers. 

🚨 It introduces tougher sanctions that could end up punishing refugees who are forced to ‘help’ smugglers, e.g. by steering a boat. 

🚨 And, it expands detention powers and focuses on increasing the number of deportation. This aspect of the Bill is already in full swing. The data is clear: 19,000 people have been ‘removed’ to use official language. We also saw that the Government will stop at nothing, including mirroring sensationalist U.S. style tactics, like broadcasting deportations on TV. This is as callous as it is alarming. 

Will it ‘smash the gangs’? Highly unlikely.

The ‘Good Character’ Guidance

Just as we were digesting the contents of the Bill, the Government sneaked in some significant changes to the ‘Good Character’ Guidance, that could effectively ban refugees, who arrived in the UK through an illegal route – i.e. by small boat or in the back lorry – from becoming British citizens, and became effective immediately on 10th February 2025. 

We know that in reality, there are very few safe routes currently available – they include resettlement programmes, bespoke schemes and refugee family reunion. These routes exclude the majority of people seeking asylum, leaving them with very little choice. 

There has been huge outcry already and the new rule is facing its first legal challenge. We will be working with other local organisations to contact MPs across Waltham Forest, including Stella Creasy who has spoken out about the proposal, to ask them to urgently raise this with the Home Secretary and for the decision to be reversed. We will keep you posted. 

In the News

Anti-migrant rhetoric has grave consequences – we saw it last summer. While there haven’t been any major flare ups, yet, we know that violence and hate crime are never far. 

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have urged the Home Office to enhance safeguarding measures for people seeking asylum following a series of violent and racially motivated incidents in asylum accommodations recently. In Essex, there have been reports of 20 assaults, including an incident where a newly released prison inmate threatened fellow residents with a knife. Islamophobia is also on the rise.

Recent opinion polls on voting intentions are showing Reform UK in the lead – and it has sent the Government in a panic. One Reform MP, Rupert Lowe, has come under fire for suggesting that ‘illegal’ migrants should be relocated to a Scottish island and housed in tents. Such extreme and reckless statements are part of a growing trend and shaping discourse way beyond the far-right. Josh Simons, former director of the think tank Labour Together, and former Tory MP Lee Anderson, now with Reform UK, have both made similar suggestions.

For every news story dehumanising migrants, there is a powerful testimony – but we rarely hear them in mainstream media.  Sam Pordale’s story – a timely reminder of why we will never stop speaking out, building solidarity and supporting migrants, people seeking asylum and refugees. 

Events

More deportations means more immigration raids are too – including in Waltham Forest ‘Borough of Sanctuary’. There is currently a massive crack down on undocumented migrants working in shops, car washes or as couriers. 

Want to find out what you can do if you see an immigration raid? Right to Remain are hosting an online event next week – 27th February, between 11.00 am and 1.00pm. You can sign up here. They have also created a resource that you can read and find your rights and what to do. 

Stand Up! Speak Out! is an annual series of free, online trainings, hosted by Solidarity Knows No Borders, to resist the Hostile Environment in public services. The 2025 series launches on March 18, World Social Work Day, with an exciting online panel event exploring this year’s theme: The Power of Words. You can sign up here.

And finally, for if fancy something fun, let you hair down and head to ‘Drag Down The Borders’ on 22nd March. You can get tickets right here!