Free movement of EU citz & their families has been *most* important barrier to serous social & economic harm that immigration controllers can do. Thread 1/
First: some basic background points.
Every known state immigration policy discriminates on grounds of nationality. States use visas / entry rules as part of intra-state deals & trade.
UK has *always* done this. 2/
Every known state immigration policy discriminates on grounds of nationality. States use visas / entry rules as part of intra-state deals & trade.
UK has *always* done this. 2/
Second, EU Free Movement of People doesn’t *require* Govs to discriminate against non-EU citz. They *could* treat them just as well. They choose not to. 3/
Third, there’s no proposal for a non-discriminatory immigration policy. That would mean abandoning visas for N Korea & Iran visitors *or* imposing them on Irish visitors.
Won’t happen. 4/
Won’t happen. 4/
UK currently *chooses* to require citz of dozens or countries to have a pre-travel visa - just to visit the UK. Almost every South Asian & African country is on that list in Appendix 2: gov.uk/guidance/immig… 5/
Not a single politician is proposing an immigration policy that abandons this nationality discrimination. Their debate is only about “how much discrimination?” 6/
Claims of “non-discrimination” are attempts at political cover to increase the burden on *all* migrants. 7/
EUref weaponised frustration of British Asians at Home Office treatment of them with overblown claims that Asian migrants could take jobs now going to EU citz. 8/
Immigration rules do shape which nationalities get work permits. And Brexit could give Home Office a free hand on this.
But there’s good reason to believe this won’t work generally in favour of poor nations - especially predominantly black and brown ones. 9/
But there’s good reason to believe this won’t work generally in favour of poor nations - especially predominantly black and brown ones. 9/
1st, Brexit Britain will want to make bilateral deals. One bargaining chip will be immigration rules. Who do you think will do better there - Zimbabweans ... or New Zealanders? 10/
2nd, Home Office decision-making culture remains deeply racist. When Labour gave Universities power to recruit students, it was immigration officers deciding cases in China, India & Pakistan who fought back, demanding Ministers block recruitment. 11/
As an immigration lawyer, I saw officials target visa applicants from countries like Zimbabwe, Jamaica and Pakistan with not just cynicism, but down-right obstructionism. 12/
If British employers try to recruit from Bangalore instead of Bucharest, UK immigration officials will try & block it. 13/
But what matters most isn’t *which migrants will get a permit* but *what rights do migrants have in the UK?* 14/
From our work with migrant workers in Arabian Gulf, Lebanon, Jordan, Malaysia & Singapore, there’s one crucial issue:
“Will workers be free to change employer?”
Because that’s an individual migrant’s most powerful tool against exploitation. 15/
“Will workers be free to change employer?”
Because that’s an individual migrant’s most powerful tool against exploitation. 15/
A migrant worker who can *legally* take a different job has a strong tool against exploitation of any kind: forced overtime, illegal deductions, physical violence & sexual harassment. 16/
A worker who knows that leaving - or getting fired - means deportation is a worker who is most likely to suffer in silence. 17/
The right to change a job isn’t the only guarantee migrants need. To join a trade union. To have the right to claim unfair dismissal. These matter too. 18/
Exploitative employers use fear of deportation, and the detention & immigration “record” that comes with it.
In Lebanon, employers prefer Nepali workers to Egyptians, who cost them less. Because Nepalis feel under pressure of deportation to do what they’re told. 19/
In Lebanon, employers prefer Nepali workers to Egyptians, who cost them less. Because Nepalis feel under pressure of deportation to do what they’re told. 19/
Free movement gives least possibility for migrant exploitation. Work permits (points based or not) tying workers to an employer give the most possibility for migrant exploitation. 20/
@sajidjavid - will you commit to protect migrant workers from exploitation? Make sure every worker is free to change employer, without needing anyone’s permission. 21/21
