An EASY guide to the new immigration plan and how to stop it being legalised
Together we can ensure that the Home Office understands that their hostile environment policies and new immigration plan are not popular. The UK is a welcoming place, we see this every day in the communities we work with far and wide.
The government has published a 7-minute questionnaire in which you can fill out to speak out against the new immigration plan. You have until the 6th of May.
The government have made the new immigration plan long and hard to understand so that we don’t bother looking at it. BUT, don’t fear, we are here to help with:
an overview of the plan’s main points
instructions on how to take part in the survey
Main points of the new plan:
The proposal to give only temporary protection to vulnerable people who have arrived to the UK by boat or lorries, and other irregular routes (Chapter 4 of the Plan).
We believe that how people arrived into a country should never be prioritised over why. People escaping war don’t have the luxury of choice or the time to get organised and they should not be punished for this. There must not be a time limit placed on a person’s right to safety.
The ‘one stop’ process – to make people who claim asylum present all the reasons for why they need protection from the very beginning (Chapter 5 of the Plan).
Asking survivors of war, trafficking or sexual violence to share their experiences straight away is hugely traumatic. This ‘one stop’ process puts vulnerable people under pressure and further harm. The types of evidence people are asked to provide are already a violation of their human rights eg. LGBTQIA+ people have been asked to provide videos and images that ‘prove’ their sexuality.
Instructions on how to take the survey.
Make an account - go to the website and register. You’ll be invited to register with an email address. Once you’ve created your account, you will be given three ways to take part: If you are a member of the public, submitting a personal response, click the LAST option.
There is more than one survey but to choose the main one, click projects and then ‘New Plan for Immigration Main questionnaire’
Or you may see this, in which case click ‘Introduction to the New Plan for Immigration’
Image taken from Women for Refugee Women’s guide
3. Finally, click ‘take the survey’
4. Women for Refugee Women’s guide is encouraging supporters to AT LEAST answer these three questions: 1, 40-41 and 45.
This guide includes example answers for each of these questions and an excellent list of things to include if you are a refugee or asylum seeker.
5. Amnesty International’s guide provides suggested points to make for each answer and which questions to avoid. We agree with their suggestions but would suggest you answer in line with Women for Refugee Women on 40-41.
SHARE, SHARE, SHARE
Finally, please SHARE this with your friends and family. The more people that know about this questionnaire, the more likely the government will hear us.
