Liberty responds to Government equality impact assessment that shows hostile environment policies ‘disproportionately impact’ people of colour

Liberty responds to Government equality impact assessment that shows hostile environment policies ‘disproportionately impact’ people of colour, Jun Pang, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty said:

“A hostile environment will always result in human rights violations. We have long known that the hostile environment is racist by design, thanks to the harrowing testimonies and tireless advocacy of those who have had their lives ruined by this system. Now the Government’s own evaluation admits that its policies ‘disproportionately impact’ people of colour.

“The people in power are failing to learn from their mistakes and instead continue to double down on its harmful rhetoric and policies against migrants and refugees. The Government looks intent on re-entrenching the hostile environment with plans to undermine asylum and repeal the Human Rights Act. Recently we have even heard a minority of politicians speak about leaving the European Convention of Human Rights – an unthinkable and desperate move. All these plans will remove basic human rights and put people seeking safety at risk of extreme harm, all the while hiding those in power from accountability.

“The Government must use this report as an opportunity to ensure there’s no repeat of Windrush and to enable everyone to live safe and flourishing lives. They must end the hostile environment and redesign the immigration system with humanity, dignity and respect at its core.”