ILPA issued a statement on 5 August 2024 in response to the recent racist, anti-migrant violence and the targeting of immigration lawyers.
In light of the list targeting specific organisations that is currently circulating amongst far-right groups, we have personally contacted all the organisations on the list for whom we have contact details to make them aware of the situation and of our recommended safety measures, and to extend our support and solidarity. We have also sent a checklist of safety measures to our 4,000 members, including recommending that they work from home where possible.
Implementing these recommendations may result in practitioners having even further reduced capacity, including a reduced capacity to assist with in-person advice and meetings where clients’ vulnerabilities may require it. Means of communication may also be limited as a result of these safety measures. It is important to acknowledge the disruptive nature of these riots to the provision of legal advice and the consequential impact this has on the justice system and the processing of applications and claims.
ILPA Legal Director Zoe Bantleman said:
‘The recent far-right violence and riots may intend to divide us, to vilify migrants, people racialised as migrants, and those of us who represent them.
‘We will not bow to these tactics of intimidation. We will respond with solidarity, and it is that which strengthens the legal community in the face of adversity.
‘We may need to adapt our ways of working and we have encouraged members to take precautions to safeguard their well-being, but we will not be discouraged from doing our jobs: providing equal access to justice and upholding the rule of law.
‘The planned targeting of immigration lawyers, and the individuals they represent, is the natural inheritance of a climate of hostility fuelled by divisive, anti-migrant, and populist rhetoric from senior politicians in previous Governments and certain parts of the media, upon which the far-right have latched.
‘It is borne of a failure of this country and of the media, a failure to inform and educate those rioting, to end the politics of distraction, and tell them the truth: people have the right to seek asylum here and they have a right to access justice. That is what it means to live in a country in which the rule of law is respected.
‘The legal community has repeatedly warned that the vilification of lawyers would irresponsibly endanger their personal safety and undermine the justice system. We have now seen offices close and lawyers contact the police and take precautionary measures to safeguard themselves, for fear of being harmed for carrying out their professional duties.
‘The Government must now resolutely stand against the false narrative underpinning this violence.’
Hazar El-Chamaa, Chair of ILPA’s Trustees, commented:
‘Hostility towards immigration practitioners is sadly nothing new and has been fuelled, in recent years, by inflammatory rhetoric by certain politicians and parts of the media. However, the current escalation of far-right threats has taken things to a new level and is a matter of enormous concern, first and foremost for the practitioners themselves and their communities, but also for access to justice and the rule of law within the UK.
‘Our members are understandably apprehensive, and we have issued specific security advice as well as additional well-being support. However, the current climate cannot be allowed to continue; the Government must step up and change the harmful narrative on migration once and for all.’
See also our Statement on the Safety of Immigration Practitioners from August 2023.
Journalists are welcome to quote from the above. If you require additional comment, please get in touch at legal@ilpa.org.uk but please note that we are a small team and are very busy at present so may not be able to respond.
If you have a media enquiry about a different matter, please also contact us at legal@ilpa.org.uk being mindful that we may not be able to respond at this exceptionally busy time. Thank you for you understanding.
About ILPA
The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (‘ILPA’) is a professional association and registered charity, the majority of whose members are barristers, solicitors, and advocates practising in all aspects of immigration, asylum, and nationality law. Academics, non-governmental organisations, and individuals with a substantial interest in the law are also members. ILPA exists to promote and improve advice and representation in immigration, asylum, and nationality law; to act as an information and knowledge resource for members of the immigration law profession; and to help ensure a fair and human rights-based immigration and asylum system. ILPA is represented on numerous government, official, and non-governmental advisory groups and regularly provides evidence to parliamentary and official inquiries.