Faced with COVID, the Government should have done everything in its power to ensure everyone had support. Everyone needs a way to earn a living, access to the public safety net if they need it, safe accommodation, and access to vaccines and the NHS.
But Hostile Environment policies cut undocumented migrants off from these basic rights. Because they don’t have the right piece of paper in their passport, people without status have been left destitute, homeless, and afraid or unable to get help during the pandemic. Our research, published in January 2022, shines a spotlight on this cruel and unnecessary suffering.
That’s why JCWI, along with other groups including racial justice organisations, doctors’ unions and faith groups, and nearly 2,000 individuals, wrote in January 2022 to the Chair of the COVID inquiry. We asked that restrictive policies affecting migrants – including undocumented migrants – are included in the inquiry’s investigations. 
Good news as the COVID inqui…