Claim the Future

to self-isolate effectively, and to protect themselves from
contracting coronavirus. The ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’
visa condition blocked access to vital public services. Migrants
continued to be held in migrant detention centres indefinitely,
with reports of coronavirus cases breaking out, concern over
the mental health of those detained, and no instructions or
guidance on social distancing.
There was a threefold increase in hate crime against people
appearing to be Chinese or from East Asia between January
and March 2020. With travel to a number of countries
restricted, many migrants were locked out from returning
home. In addition, those from overseas have been asked to pay
astronomical fees, like the Immigration Health Surcharge, just
to carry on living and working here, on top of paying taxes just
like British nationals.
Campaigners mobilised to pressurise the Conservative
government with the result that the visas of overseas health
and care workers were extended for a year. More than 700
detainees were released from migrant detention centres between
March and April and a successful legal challenge secured some
exception to the “No Recourse to Public Funds” rules. These
limited moves by the government did not prevent stark injustices
and human tragedies.
Although the coronavirus crisis highlighted the need to revalue
work that was previously labelled ‘low-skilled’ the Government
went ahead with the introduction of its Immigration Bill in May,
paving the way to restrict entry to the UK for those who do not
not meet its salary threshold, the so-called ‘low-skilled.’
By reducing access to legal, flexible migration routes for the
lower-paid, the Government’s so-called ‘points-based system’
will force more people in those circumstances into workplace
exploitation and modern slavery where they are unable to obtain
a secure legal status in the country.
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Migrants’
Rights