Ten years of Hostile Environment

On 25 May it will be 10 years since the then Home Secretary Theresa May first announced her intention to create “a really hostile environment for illegal immigrants” in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. 

For the past ten years, thousands upon thousands of people unable to prove their right to live in the UK have been forced into the shadows, as they’ve been prevented from accessing basic services and rights - including healthcare, employment, private and public housing and the welfare system. 

All while Home Office fees have skyrocketed, and people have to wait months or years to hear on the outcome of applications with the department.

The ‘hostile environment’ has created an atmosphere of suspicion and hostility towards migrant communities and has given a license for racial discrimination, as landlords, employers and other unqualified private citizens and public servants have been given responsibility for carrying out immigration checks and acting as gatekeepers to services.

There are many reasons why migrants end up without the ‘right’ documentation. Studies show that most undocumented migrants in the UK came here lawfully and have often become undocumented through no fault of their own.

Windrush exemplified this. 

The Government is now extending these policies to ever-larger numbers of people, including people fleeing conflict and persecution.