Thread by @stand_for_all

THREAD: Okay, so why is it important to distinguish between Patel being at raid on people alleged to be involved in smuggling and trafficking, and Patel being at an immigration raid? I mean either way she's doing it for PR purposes to show she is tough on immigration right? 1/

https://twitter.com/stand_for_all/status/1395315431620087809

Of course she, and it would naïve to think this didn't have anything to do with recent public displays of support for migrants, or her own issues with being accused of breaching the Ministerial Code, but there is a secondary issue here. 2/

Immigration is a highly charged subject, to put it politely.
Only a couple of days ago @jameskirkup wrote a piece, which I admit to having a number of disagreements with, regarding how and why migrants' rights advocates keep losing on issues. 3/
thetimes.co.uk/article/patel-…

Now, one of the areas I disagree with Kirkup on, and something which has been flagged elsewhere is the need to "understand" what are commonly termed as "legitimate concerns". I think we should listen, engage, and then debunk and put forward a positive message. 4/

Here's the issue though. That is a long process. There's a debate within advocacy circles at times as to whether you should argue the big stuff and then win smaller battles, or argue the smaller stuff and work up. I'm a big stuff advocate myself. 5/

I'm also a "don't give them an easy win" advocate. It was shown last week that there is public support to oppose immigration raids. You'd be hard pressed, especially I would argue among migrant's rights advocates, to find anyone defending smugglers and traffickers that way. 6/

This is not black and white. Home Office has a track record of prosecuting asylum seekers, who for a variety of reasons may have no choice but to steer boats, as smugglers. they routinely deny rights to victims of traffickers, and even deport them etc. 7/
ecre.org/uk-asylum-seek…

It's also fairly obvious that Patel is pulling this as a PR stunt to demonstrate she is "tough on immigration". All that said, she can also really, really, easily shoot down criticism by making it appear as if those who defend migrants' rights defend those who exploit them. 8/

It plays straight into her "do-gooders and activist lawyers are undermining the law" argument, despite the fact that the greatest threat to immigration and asylum law right now, both domestic and international, is Patel and the Home Office. 9/

It's an automatic losing position to claim that it doesn't matter if this is an immigration raid or a raid on organised criminals. Patel and the Home Office can play it out too well and undermine a lot of potential support for migrants' rights campaigns. 10/

I would argue, however, that it is perfectly okay to call out an Home Secretary rocking up to any form of raid wearing a jacket with her title on it like she Judge Dredd or something, because let's be honest, that's just plain weird and not a little authoritarian. 11/

As @minnierahman says, and despite my having written a whacking great thread, ignore the picture. Patel just wants exposure. Focus on the actual issues, such as included in the attached thread by @ZoeJardiniere. That's more important right now. 12/

https://twitter.com/minnierahman/status/1395327647106822148?s=19

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