Liverpool Migration Newswire Archive

Over 100 school children took part in a rally last Saturday 5th November 2005 to demand five of their class-mates are brought back from Uganda.
Read more >>

Heather Bullen, a British citizen and UNISON health worker, and her Afghan husband Shah have launched a campaign to stay in Britain. Although they are happily married and settled, the Home Office have refused to grant permission for Shah to stay in the UK. They plan to send him back to Afghanistan where he could face persecution and danger. A hearing is set for 9 August. Read more >>

This is a model letter to the Minister for Immigration requesting that Christian be allowed to stay. Read more >>

The YMCA have dropped section 10 - Hooray!
Just announced on Radio Merseyside
31 May 2005

 http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1256290&messageid=2711

 http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1256290&messageid=2712
Read more >>

Below is the latest leaflet from No One is illegal against the YMCA using Asylum Seekers as slave labour. Read more >>

Merseyside Asylum Rights Campaign got together with other activists outside Millennium House, Liverpool on Tuesday 24th May, to protest about the Home Office and YMCA negotiations and plans for a forced labour scheme for failed asylum seekers.

The Home Office and YMCA are pledging that this scheme will be under section 10 of the Asylum & Immigration Act 1999.

The demonstration was small but effective. The 8 protestors stood their ground outside Millennium House (Liverpool City Council building) and were joined in solidarity by those invited to the meeting on their way in and out of the meeting and by those few who ’gate crashed’ - Councillors! Read more >>

Human rights protesters visited the residence of the Bishop of Birmingham the morning of Tuesday 24th May to protest at his organisations involvement in the governments plans to force asylum seekers to work without pay, union rights or health and safety for basic human needs. Refugees will be forced under the scheme to perform degrading menial tasks for their meagre upkeep. If they refuse they will be made homeless and receive no support of any kind, and will be liable to be detained and deported.

The human rights protesters representing asylum seekers, symbolically chained together with the initials Y.M.C.A. branded on their backs, cleaned up the residence, removing dirt and grime from various points on the outside of the building. Read more >>

Say no to Asylum Slavery

Demonstrate Tuesday 24th May 2005

12.15pm to 2.00pm

Called by Merseyside Asylum Rights Campaign

Liverpool Council Building
Millenium House
60 Victoria Street
Liverpool
L1. 6JQ

There will be a demonstration outside Millenium House against the Home Office consultation on Section 10 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 (minimum support for compulsory 'community service'). The consultation is taking place regarding the YMCA agreement to participate in this dreadful 'practice' and sadly Liverpool YMCA has agreed to run a pilot scheme. We must all let the YMCA know that they should now say NO.
Read more >>

Liverpool YMCA is going to be the first voluntary sector agency to collude with the Home Office in the immigration slavery scheme introduced by section 10 of the 2004 legislation.

No One Is Illegal has sent the following letter. We would ask other individuals and organisations to do the same in their name. Also there is a consultation meeting with the YMCA and the Home Office about this on 24th May - 12.40 - 2.40 at Millenium House in Liverpool. Read more >>

The Home Office have now ratcheted up the ante by re-introducing slavery through the form of 'voluntary service for people who have failed the Asylum System and needing subsistence and accommodation' with the assistance of the National YMCA Organisation.

Liverpool YMCA is going to be the first voluntary sector agency to collude with the Home Office in the immigration slavery scheme introduced by section 10 of the 2004 legislation.

While Liverpool is parading on its City Of Culture, 2008 Status (more like Culture of Capital, Here & Now), it would be worthwhile stating historical fact - Liverpool was home to the Slave Trade - and now in 2005, Liverpool could and may well become home to the New City Of Slavery.

The YMCA and the Home Office have called for a 'Closed Door' Meeting to be held at Liverpool City Councils Millenium House on Tuesday 24 May 2005 from 12:40 - 14:40hrs.

The aim of this meeting from what I can gather, is to 'embrace community dialogue' - through restricting the meeting to just a few (highly-paid & self-anointed) NGOs (whose own sources of revenue are probably paid for by the Home Office...)

The question is, can real community dialogue be achieved like this?

The meeting was posted on the SmartGroups Liverpool asylum seeker and refugee support group:

 http://www.smartgroups.com/message/viewdiscussion.cfm?gid=1256290&messageid=2609

----Section 4 Support - 'Voluntary Service'

>> There is a consultation meeting with the YMCA and
>> the Home Office about this on 24th May - 12.40 - 2.40
>> at Millenium House in Liverpool.

As you can see this is the only outside knowledge of this meeting.

I contacted the Liverpool YMCA today which people believe to be the site of the Pilot Scheme, and the Office Administrator has denied any knowledge of the meeting, but said that, "if it's not Liverpool then it might be Chester which will do it."

If the meeting is being held within Council premises, can Trade Unionists based within Millenium House please make and take action with regards to this?

UNISON, and other Unions the call-out for you is here.

Individuals with a conscience, please make your views heard on this subject.

The following links are related to this meeting:

YMCA slave labour scheme

Section 4 Support - 'Voluntary Service'

There is a consultation meeting with the YMCA and the Home Office
about this on 24th May - 12.40 - 2.40 at Millenium House in Liverpool.

 http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1256290&messageid=2602

IND has announced that YMCA England will be running a pilot exercise for Section 10 of the Asylum & Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act in Liverpool.

Word document:

 http://www.asylumpolicy.info/mayiapnews.doc

YMCA England Statement following meeting with Church Action on Poverty, Boaz Trust and Churches Commission on Racial Justice

Word document:

 http://www.asylumpolicy.info/ymcastatement.doc

It is important that no-one allows this 'Pilot' to get off the ground.

While the YMCA may or could agree to the scheme, it can only be made unworkable if YMCA Staff take a stand on this issue - strike action, refuse on moral grounds, refuse on Health & Safety issues (will the refugees be given proper H&S training?)

Or perhaps I could 'release' the person out, if I saw a refugee doing what I called anything like 'labour'?

Or maybe, the homeless people within the YMCAs will start "getting refugees to do their 'dirty-work'", or cause deep divisions within already dis-enfranchised communities?

If this doesn't happen here, it could happen near YOU.

Maybe meet up at The Egg, Tuesday 24/05, 11:30am?

Anyone into it?

Banners, drums, trumpets, anything to make a party & noise.

Can the 'Outside Media' meaning The Echo/BBC do something on it? Read more >>

The community must be moved at all costs even if it involves violence. The service providers are supposed to provide the services, but instead they subjugate and oppress the community so that outside vested interests can impose their agendas onto the community Read more >>

a little example to inspire people to do more of the same Read more >>

For any people from Liverpool wishing to go to Manchester for the demo in support of migrant rights on Saturday, why not come with us! Read more >>

Saturday 2nd April - 12.30 pm at Whitworth Park, Manchester
National demonstration and rally in support of people seeking asylum and against racism Read more >>

In contrarily with the general allegations in American and Western newsmedia, not only the Netherlands is no open society for minorities, moreover the Dutch asylum-policy is violating gravely international humanitarian principles. Read more >>

England Needs You Now To Rid Ourselves of Wankers Like The BNP and The English Democrats Read more >>

UN General Secretary Kofi Annan highlights the crisis of negative European attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers. Read more >>

Join in the event spread the word and stand up for asylum seekers on the 8th of Jan. Read more >>

We are planning to hold a “Sleep Out in Solidarity” on or around November 1st to highlight the plight of asylum seekers left homeless and starving, either because their application for asylum has failed, but their country of origin is too dangerous to deport them to, or because the Home Office does not accept that they made their claim at the first opportunity (Section 55 of the Immigration and Nationality Act)
Read more >>

Institutionalised racism within NHS policies Read more >>