Student Action For Refugee Society

University of Stirling

Dear Alyn Smith and The Home Office,

As a society, at the University of Stirling, who continuously advocates for the rights of refugees across the country, we have found that the new Illegal Migration Bill proposed by Suella Braverman to be inhumane, irresponsible, and in breach of the European Human Rights Convention.

We conducted a stall where we asked fellow students to share their opinions on the new bill. One notable comment left stated, ‘International law has been created for a reason. Ignoring it or creating bypasses creates a scary and dangerous precedent.’

Another comment left by a student read, ‘This Bill is inhumane, unreasonable and inexcusable. Refugees are welcome here, and we will not stop fighting the Home Office’s threat to their safety and rights.’ We also found that a variety of comments read similar statements, which included ‘Everyone deserves safety’, ‘No one is illegal’, and that everyone deserves safety, dignity and respect. The Bill indicates a severity of dehumanisation towards asylum seekers, which creates a dangerous precedent throughout the UK, inciting hatred towards refugees and encouraging uneducated beliefs to be circulated'. Another comment noted, ‘Stop using asylum seekers as a scapegoat so you can create horrific inequalities across the UK.’

It seems ironic that students are having to tell elected officials how to do their jobs and what the laws they have adhered to are, but then again we are the future. It would be imperative for the Home Office to take into account the horrific lived experiences of asylum seekers who have put their own lives at risk to brave treacherous routes in order to live a better life away from war-torn homes and horrific loss. If the Home Office for once listened to those who have experienced this, maybe then it would implement policies that advocate and prioritise the care and safety of asylum seekers, instead of using their policy making powers to promote racist ideals.

These policies are in desperate need of change, and we will never stop fighting against policies that are only there to promote hatred.

The proposed laws mean only those arriving through incredibly restricted "official" routes can seek asylum here in the UK. Anyone else will be banned from claiming asylum, detained and then deported under the current system. We call on the Westminster government to scrap this cruel and inhumane bill that restricts seeking sanctuary here in the United Kingdom.

Yours Sincerely,

Student Action for Refugees Stirling