Lewisham Council has passed what is believed to be the UK's first motion committing a local authority to systematically review its cooperation with immigration enforcement, with the explicit aim of refusing to assist Home Office raids wherever legally possible.
The motion, ‘Building an anti-raids Sanctuary Corridor in and beyond Lewisham,’ was proposed by Green Cllr Hau-Yu Tam and seconded by Cllr Wellington Gill, with backing from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.
It commits the council to a comprehensive review of its systems and processes, aiming to refuse assistance to the Home Office or Immigration Enforcement during raids, including via police cooperation.
The council will also review its data-sharing and service agreements to prevent a ‘digital hostile environment’ and will not use council resources or public money for immigration enforcement.
In their words
Lewisham Mayor Liam Shrivastava said: ‘I’m incredibly proud that Lewisham Council has made this historic decision to defend our migrant workers against the hostile environment.
‘Immigration raids do not build safety in our communities; they spread fear and make it even harder for victims of modern slavery and trafficking to come forward and seek protection. Lewisham is now a true Borough of Sanctuary, in name and in practice.’
