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Dear supporters, 

Summer’s over, Parliament is back and the Hostile Environment is ramping up. 

Before we dive into our round-up of what we’ve been busy working on while Parliament has been off on recess, we want to share our grief and rage following the death of 12 people in the Channel this week.

This tragedy, like so many before it, didn’t have to happen. Instead of creating ways for people to come to the UK safely, the new Government continues the trend of militarising borders and so-called ‘deterrence’ measures that force people into making dangerous crossings. We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: violent borders have no place in our lives.

Prior to this tragedy, we’ve been very busy working on our Hostile Office campaign, launching our new report on the secretive and racist nature of immigration raids. In the aftermath of the fascist riots across the country, we have continued to stand in solidarity with those affected by spotlighting the voices of migrants, and exposing the role of media and politicians that gave fuel to the riots. Now is not the time to be complacent: we will continue holding those who perpetuate racist, Islamophobic and anti-migrant hate to account.
 
We are really eager for our work to be led and shaped by our communities. That’s why we have shared a call-out for both migrants and migrant justice organisations who want to get involved in our work. You can find out more about this below.
 
Thank you for your ongoing support, and we hope you continue to stand with us in pursuit of justice for all migrants.
 
In solidarity,
The MRN Team

The MRN Team

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Hostile Office

New report on immigration raids

Following the Government’s announcement that it is ramping up raids and removals, our new report shows that immigration raids are a racist intimidation tactic. They are meant to humiliate, intimidate, racially subjugate and inflict harm on the “Other”, specifically migrants and/or racialised people.
 
Raids are designed to instill fear and disrupt communities, and operate as an extension of colonial ‘divide and rule’ tactics that create atmospheres of distrust and pit neighbours, colleagues and the wider community against each other.
 
Our report dissects the secretive and opaque nature of raids, and their disproportionate impact on racialised communities, whilst making millions for the Home Office in the process.
 
Our report was covered by the Canary and the Morning Star. Alongside the report, we also launched a new Reporting Tool to log immigration raids in your local area.
 
As politicians signal that raids are likely to increase, it is vital we stand up and send a clear message to the State: our communities do not consent to raids.

Statement on deportations

We also responded to the Government’s plans to deport 14,500 undocumented migrants within six months, via the expansion of detention and removal centres, and the expansion of the National Crime Agency to target “people smuggling gangs” in cooperation with European agencies. 

Nine deportation flights have taken place since the change in Government. Returns deals have also been signed with the Governments of Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Serbia and Georgia.

Deportations are always cruel, even if they are framed as “voluntary”, because deportations inherently violate someone’s right to stay where they have chosen to build their home. We urge this Government to scrap these oppressive plans.

Other Hostile Office Updates

• LinkedIn post: Visa schemes treat racialised people as capital
• The Morning Star comment: We condemn the move to axe free bus travel for people seeking asylum in Scotland
• Joint Letter: We condemn facial recognition surveillance(coverage in the Independent and Article 19)

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Fascist Violence

OpenDemocracy Article

“I never thought I would be in lockdown again but this time for being Black. We are being hunted like animals.”

We spoke to openDemocracy about the racist, Islamophobic riots up and down the country, and how migrant voices have been missing from the public conversation in response to these fascist riots. The migrants we spoke to also stated that this moment should mark a shift beyond performative statements from the charity sector. Read the article here. 

Sea-Watch Collaboration

In collaboration with Sea-Watch, we created two pieces of video content in response to the fascist riots we saw last month.

The first video exposed the hypocrisy of politicians and the media expressing outrage at the riots, despite these riots being the result of years of the media and politicians spreading and normalising hate against people of colour. The second video traced the UK’s long history of fascist mobilisation. 

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Stand up for migrants’ rights

MRN are reaching out to invite values-led grassroots organisations, community groups, activists and individuals with lived experience of migration to engage with and join the Network. If you would be interested in getting involved in our work – such as shaping events, workshops and blogs, engaging in joint power-building practise, narrative change work and advocacy, co-creating a campaign, learning opportunities, telling your story or organising your community – then please contact Toby Nicholas, the Community and Capacity Building Manager, at [email protected]

We are also surveying communities to find out more about what issues grassroots groups, individuals and larger organisations are facing, as well as capacity gaps. There are two surveys, one for individuals with lived experience of migration and one for representatives of organisations. 

Please note: surveys are specifically aimed at London based orgs/groups/individuals.

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Decolonising Migration

East Midlands Abolition and Decolonisation Organising Day

Calling people across the Midlands to join us in Leicester on 14 September 2024 (10-6pm) to organise and build local resistance to the racist structures that keep our communities oppressed.

What to expect:

• Reflective Discussions: Explore critical topics like racist and anti-migrant language, colonialism and systemic racism
• Personal Histories: Share and learn from our personal experiences of migration and colonisation. Together, we’ll reflect on how these histories shape our present and our future.
• Community Resistance: Learn and discuss how people are building local resistance to racist laws and structures.
• Network & Connect: Meet like-minded individuals, and activists who want to dismantle racist structures and systems locally

Other info:

• Free lunch and refreshments will be provided.
• Limited travel subsidies are available on a first come first served basis.
• RSVP here by 10 September 2024

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Other Campaign Updates

Justice For Sponsored Workers

Alongside Migrants At Work, we have continued spotlighting the sponsored-worker-led JFSW campaign to demand an end to sponsored slavery. We created content exploring the slavery-like conditions of sponsorship visa schemes, as well as debt bondage and a care-worker’s personal story.

Who Is Welcome?

As part of our Who is Welcome: Disability and Migration campaign, we shared content in collaboration with National Survivor User Network, that explores how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) impacts people in the asylum system. Find out more here. 

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Sector Vacancies

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If you want to support our work…

…would you consider making a donation?

We are a small team that receives minimal funding. To keep us going, we need all the help we can get, so we can achieve more in 2024.

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