• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Joint Public Issues Team

Churches working for peace and justice

  • Home Page
  • Who We Are
    • Six hopes for society
  • Issues
    • Economy
      • Tax Justice
      • Reset The Debt
      • Living Wage
    • Environment
      • Net Zero In My Neighbourhood
    • Poverty and Inequality
      • The Cost of Living Crisis
      • Universal Credit
      • Truth and Lies
      • Enough
      • Rethink Sanctions
      • Faith in Foodbanks
      • Housing and Homelessness
    • Asylum and Migration
      • Refugees
      • End Hostility
      • The Asylum System
    • Peacemaking
      • The Arms Trade
      • Nuclear Weapons
      • Drones
      • Peacemaking resources
    • Politics and Elections
      • Elections
      • Meet Your MP
      • Art of the Possible
      • Brexit
    • Other Issues
      • International Development
      • Modern Slavery and Exploitation
        • Forced labour in fashion
  • Get Involved
    • JPIT Conference 2022
    • Newsletter
    • Events
    • Walking with Micah
  • Resources
    • Advent
    • 10 Minutes on… podcast
    • Politics in the Pulpit?
    • Stay and Pray
    • Season of Creation
    • Prayers
    • Public Issues Calendar
    • Poetry
    • Small Group Resources
  • Blog

Asylum and Migration

You are here: Home / Issues / Asylum and Migration

‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.’

Leviticus 19:33-34

We want to see a society that welcomes the stranger. Migration, whether voluntary or forced, appears in political discussions time and again. As Churches we approach the question of migration first and foremost with the understanding that we are all children of God. We highlight the ongoing plight of refugees and displaced people affirming a human response to the crisis. We emphasise the importance of treating people with decency whatever our immigration policy. This is why as Churches we are calling for an end to the government’s hostile environment policies, for a humane approach to those seeking sanctuary, and for asylum seekers to have the right to work.

Updated Briefing: January 2023

With issues facing asylum seekers and refugees arising in the media so frequently, it can be hard to see beyond the headlines and build a bigger picture understanding of the questions and challenges around asylum and refugee policy.

We’ve produced a briefing looking at:

  • Some of the key issues currently facing asylum and refugee policy
  • Key thoughts underpinning a Christian response
  • Proposals for an improved system
Click here to explore the briefing

Fill the Skies with Hope

Together with Refugees are calling for groups around the country to Fill The Skies With Hope. Stand in solidarity with refugees by calling on the government to change course on their policy to send refugees to Rwanda.

How can you get involved?

Make and send orange heart shaped paper planes to the Prime Minister. This is a simple and powerful message, to say that we want to see a more compassionate and fair asylum system.

Together With Refugees have everything you need to get started, including:

  • An origami template to make your paper plane
  • Tips for holding a paper plane launch event, to raise the profile of your messages to the PM
Click here to find everything you need to get involved

Lift the Ban on our High Streets!

We’ve been part of the campaign to lift the ban on asylum seekers working since 2018. Now, we’re calling on you to get your high street involved!

Right now, people seeking in the UK are banned from working and forced to live in poverty. This ban is harmful to everyone. It has the biggest impact of people seeking asylum, but also the UK economy misses out on tax revenue and much needed skills by freezing people out of work.

We know that there are lots of businesses in our towns and on our high streets who want to welcome people seeking asylum into work. Could you ask your local businesses to become allies to the campaign?

Lift The Ban have put together everything you need to know, including a handbook, flyers and posters, and a template letter to businesses.

Click here to get stuck in

The Nationality and Borders Act 2022

In April 2022, The Nationality and Borders Act passed into law. Our Churches campaigned against this bill during its time in parliament, and together we have signed the Anti-Refugee Laws pledge. Together with hundreds of other organisations and charities, we pledge to:

  • Defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK
  • Speak out against attempts to criminalise and punish those who make their own way to safety
  • Challenge the anti-refugee laws which will risk the lives and well-being of people
  • Work towards a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion
Click here to read more about the Anti-Refugee Laws Pledge

How can I help refugees coming from Ukraine?

The war in Ukraine has led to millions of people being displaced from their homes. Many of them have been displaced to countries bordering Ukraine, and some have travelled to the UK to seek sanctuary. Our denominations are coordinating responses from communities in the UK, which you can get involved in.

Methodists for Ukraine is a scheme supporting Methodist communities in the UK to match with and host Ukrainian refugees. Click here to find out more.

Baptists Together also have a scheme matching Baptist churches with Ukrainian refugees hoping to come to the UK. Click here to find out more.

More campaigns

The Right to Work – Asylum seekers in the UK are effectively banned from working. Click here to find out more about the campaign to Lift The Ban.

End Hostility – The ‘hostile environment’ is a web of government policies designed to make life so difficult for people who cannot prove they have the right to live in the UK that they will choose to leave. We are calling for an end to the hostile environment. Click here to find out more about the campaign to End Hostility.

Deportation agreement with Rwanda policy

 In April 2022 the UK Government announced a new deal to send people to Rwanda who cross the channel in order to claim asylum in the UK. Our churches have been vocal in their opposition to this policy.

Read the response of the Methodist Church here.

Read the response of the United Reformed Church here.

Read the response of the Baptist Union here. 

A welcoming environment – In this context of migration and hostility, churches can play a positive and practical role in creating an environment of welcome and hospitality. Many already do. Click here to read our blog series on a welcoming environment.

Some useful resources for local congregations:

Welcome Churches

Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees

City of Sanctuary – faith groups resources

CTBI Focus on Refugees – practical action

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Posts

  • What does Government Support for Asylum Seekers really provide?
  • God with Us – the Refugees of Calais and Dunkirk
  • What are the stories we should tell about the humanitarian crisis at Manston Airport Asylum centre?
  • Afghanistan and the UK – One Year On from the Fall Of Kabul
  • Five things you can do to mark Refugee Week (20-26 June 2022)
  • Nationality and Borders Act 2022
  • Senior Church leaders write to Peers ahead of House of Lords vote on Nationality & Borders Bill
  • Nationality and Borders Bill – What’s next?
  • Nationality and Borders Bill: Update from the House of Commons
  • How can we help Ukraine?

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Footer

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Quick links

Stay and Pray
Politics in the Pulpit
Faith in Politics podcast
Public Issues Calendar
Useful Links

Our work

About Us
Meet the Team
Join the Team 
Internship
Our Newsletter

Contact us

25 Marylebone Road
London NW1 5JR

Tel: 020 7916 8632

enquiries@jpit.uk

Copyright © 2023 · Showcase Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in