Illegal Migration Bill
During recent weeks charities and churches across the UK have raised concerns about the impact, as well as unintended consequences, of the Illegal Migration Bill, which is due for its third reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday 26th April.
During the second reading of the bill, vocal opposition was raised from the backbenches, including from prominent politicians like Theresa May, who spoke out on how the bill removed support for victims of trafficking and modern-day slavery. And Robert Buckland MP urged the government to consider how the bill would impact the treatment of unaccompanied children.
Jubilee+ is deeply concerned about the impact of the government's Illegal Migration Bill on vulnerable migrants and asylum seekers. We were glad to sign a joint letter from NACCOM and 15 member organisations to Michael Gove, outlining our concerns about the impact of the bill on homelessness and destitution in the UK.
Additionally, JPIT (the Joint Public Issues Team) has gathered concerns from over 1000 senior church leaders and delivered a letter to Downing Street, opposing the bill.
The EA, an alliance of over 3,500 evangelical churches, has also spoken out, calling the bill "unfair and inhumane." We agree with their assessment that the bill goes against Christian values of compassion, dignity, and justice. As the Evangelical Alliance states:
As Christians, we believe that all people are divine image-bearers and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Our neighbours become such simply by being in our vicinity, regardless of their nationality or legal status. This means that those arriving on our shores, by whatever means, fall within Jesus’ command to love our neighbours as ourselves.
As Christ-followers we have a rich history ourselves as sojourners, and a strong Biblical mandate for this experience to inform the way in which we treat strangers and foreigners. Leviticus 19:33-34 says:
"When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Over the coming week, Jubilee+ will be sharing additional resources to prompt consideration on what a Christian response to those making dangerous small boat crossings might look like.
We believe that Christians have a unique role to play in advocating for the inherent dignity and worth of all, and to advocate for a just and merciful migration system in the UK.
In the meantime why not join Welcome Churches online to pray (Monday, 8-9pm) for those seeking sanctuary in the UK, and in advance of the third reading of the Illegal Migration Bill on Wednesday?
Additional Resources:
Danny Webster (Evangelical Alliance), 'The Illegal Migration Bill Places Politics Before People'
Preaches from Natalie Williams and Andrew Wilson on the topic of migration.
J+ Refugee Training Course
Refugee Resource Centre for Churches
Welcome Churches
