As a second generation Cypriot migrant, I view the word “fresh” or “freshie” as something positive that allows me to feel connected to my SWANA (South West Asian and North African) roots. But before I explain why I want to reclaim this word, I think it is important to trace its history. A history of […]
Deprivation of citizenship legislation is quietly stripping people of their British citizenship. Since 2003, the incidence of this has increased as powers have expanded, primarily affecting British Muslims. But the dark reality is, this could happen to most of us. Foundational to citizenship deprivation is something called the ‘good character’ requirement. This affects the granting
Exploitation of migrant workers Modern slavery is more common than you might think. In fact, the UK’s immigration system enables the exploitation of migrant workers. State regulated immigration pathways, like the visa sponsorship system, are being used to effectively traffick workers into exploitative situations. Migrants across multiple employment sectors face numerous issues including debt bondage,
We’re reclaiming the narrative, together. The power of language Words have power. Language has the ability to hurt, uplift and shape our world. In our Words Matter explainers, we have focused on explaining the harm that certain narratives cause. This is to remind us to be mindful of the language we use: whether that looks
A blog for Islamophobia Awareness Month 2023 Greater powers to deprive people of their British citizenship were introduced under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. But the laws to deprive certain citizens of their citizenship has been in power a lot longer, and interestingly it is used predominantly for selected groups of people. It’s important
On November 18, 2023, the Day 3 workshops at the Golden Lane Community Centre in the City of London were focused on empowering participants in effective communication and advocacy. The first session, led by Sophie Yates Lu, delved into the art of campaigning. Participants learned strategies to make their voices heard, exploring ways to speak
The Government is expanding data-sharing, within the Home Office, between Government departments, with private entities, like banks, and internationally. These developments are worrying, as they expand access to people’s personal and private data, bringing surveillance in our daily lives, including when accessing vital services like healthcare. Discrimination against migrants and migratised people is enshrined in
Suella Braverman has been sacked as Home Secretary. Over the last year, she has headed up some of the most regressive immigration policies and made some inflammatory, divisive statements about marginalised groups. So, we thought we’d put together a short list of some of the most infamous moments: Her complicity in creating harmful anti-migrant laws
As part of the UK Government’s plans to fully digitalise the UK border by 2025, a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system will be introduced similar to the e-visa system in the USA and Canada. By the end of 2024, people who do not need a visa to enter the UK will need to have
