Migrants' Rights Network

Not a Stranger: Understanding Migrant Experiences Amidst UK Policy Shifts Please take the time to complete our survey. Your feedback is important.

The migrant-led Not a Stranger campaign wants to hear from you. If you want to share your experiences of being a migrant, and help challenge immigration proposals, then we invite you to fill out a confidential survey: lnkd.in/eqhZBYBahttp...

Keir Starmer is complicit in stoking anti-migrant racism Disclaimer: we had to edit this piece multiple times because the PM kept making more anti-migrant statements

Labour Party Conference kicks off tomorrow, so we thought we'd mark the occasion by going through some of the Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recent social media posts on the Government's #immigration policies. 👉 buff.ly/MshzSHQ

To Starmer’s Government: Your #WordsMatter.

🚫 We have always been, and will continue to be, completely opposed to digital ID.

We will be publishing a longer, more in-depth analysis on this soon.

#HostileEnvironment #DigitalID #Surveillance

New Government Data Shows Rise in Harm During Deportations Incidents of force during removals have more than doubled from last year

New data🔈 Latest Government data shows there has been an 25% increase in deportations and incidents of force during removals have more than doubled from last year 🚨

Read the data breakdown over on our Substack: buff.ly/hkxCBTP

Huge thank you and congratulations to our wonderful Swim Serpentine 2025 fundraisers, Kash and Tanya who swam 2 and 1 mile in the Serpentine in Hyde Park on Saturday 🏊

If you’re inspired to take on a challenge, head over to our website to find out more and get in touch: buff.ly/5vUFf3q

We spoke to some #NotAStranger migrant campaigners, and wanted to share some of their thoughts on Reform's migration stance and how they are influencing the Government and other political parties to take increasingly anti-migrant positions. 👇
migrantsrights.org.uk/not-a-strang...

The imaginary threat of migrant men How the far-right narrative that White women need "saving" from racialised migrant men underpins State immigration policies.

❓ How the does the far-right narrative that White women need "saving" from racialised migrant men underpins State immigration policies? Head over and subscribe to our Substack to read our latest post:

New campaign🔈Not a Stranger are a migrant-led campaigning group formed to fight the #Immigration White Paper proposals.
🙋‍♂️ Join the group and organise for change: buff.ly/LiyxK4r
📊 Tell us about your experiences by filling out our survey: buff.ly/XnSHknA

Check out the campaign: buff.ly/yIGEJ82

Know your rights guide - Migrants' Rights Network The know your rights guide is to help migrants understand their rights and how to assert them, on various topics such as health + housing.

If you’re a migrant looking to understand your rights, @mind.org.uk have
supported @migrantsrights.bsky.social to create a ‘know your rights’ guide

migrantsrights.org.uk/resources/kn...

🔈 Tackling the far-right starts with making your #WordsMatter

After a weekend of far-right violence, pushing back against #disinformation is more important than ever. So, let's start by unpacking the dehumanising term "illegal immigration". buff.ly/QaR41WV

No human is illegal ✊

We have three spots for the Bath Half-Marathon in March 2026 🏃

➡️GetPRO Bath Half is one of the UK’s most prestigious half marathons and by joining our team, you will raising funds to support migrants to tackle dehumanising narratives.
Email our fundraising team at fundraising@migrantsrights.org.uk

We're taking a short break for the next two weeks. We know that anti-migrant racism is rising and the Government are getting ready to push through more cruel policies, but in order to fight these and help migrants lead movements for change, we need to recharge and be ready to go.

Our Policy and Campaigns Officer, Lauren Fernandes, as written a piece reflecting on their trip to #Belfast in June. Our team went to the city to discuss #immigration raids and the research that Migrants’ Rights Network published last year with politicians and community groups➡️ buff.ly/PMQxMPE

Thank you to everyone who came to our film screening and panel event last night 🍿It was a fantastic opportunity to collectively discuss the state of border #surveillance and #AI, and what we can do to challenge it 💪

Huge thank you to #LUSH @computerweekly.bsky.social and Equinox

Stop letting the far-right define the narrative on migration It's time to shift our approach

Stop letting the far-right define the narrative on migration @migrantsrights.bsky.social

migrantsrightsnetwork.substack.com/p/stop-letti...

Say it louder for people in the back 🔈 History has shown us time and time again that if they come for one of us, they come for all of us. Read more over on our brand new Substack and find out how you can join the Words Matter campaign: buff.ly/K4ByNdk

#WordsMatter

Do you want to take on a #fundraising challenge and support migrants in their fight for justice? Why not apply for one of our challenge spots:

🔹 1 London Marathon spot
🔸 3 Brighton Marathon spots
✨ 3 GetPro Bath Half spots

Find out more and make a difference: migrantsrights.org.uk/get-involved...

🔈 London has always been a major target area for #ImmigrationRaids, with hotspots in all areas of the city. These disproportionately target racialised communities.

Read our latest deep-dive on immigration raids over on our new #Substack and subscribe for future updates: buff.ly/WrFzubp

After disinformation-fueled riots, U.K. police to release suspects’ ethnicities False claims about the identify of the man who stabbed three girls to death in last year spurred anti-immigration riots across the country.

Thanks @washingtonpost.com for including our comment following the announcement police intend to release details of suspects in specific cases. We’re concerned this move will signal that it’s ‘legitimate’ to riot where the suspect is a racialised person www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

📽️ We're really excited to be teaming up with our friends at Lush to bring you a screening of @samuelstorey.bsky.social investigative film: 'Standing at the Gates of the Digital Hostile Environment: Britain's Anduril Maritime Sentry Towers.'
Book your free tickets: buff.ly/grxNYVQ

Politicians are lying about immigration - and stirring up racism Another day begins with another round of disinformation by elected Members of Parliament.

This from @migrantsrights.bsky.social:

'Politicians double down on anti-migrant disinformation. In the wake of far-right violence in N. Ireland, DUP MP Carla Lockhart went on local radio to reinforce the false correlation of migration to increased crime w/o facts or figures to back up her claims.'

Read this powerful piece by our CEO, Fizza Qureshi, for
@lbc.co.uk

She calls out how politicians are spreading disinformation about immigration and how that's sowing the seeds for racism and division across the country.

We must hold them accountable.
🔗 buff.ly/FlNpXMC

Kashmala is swimming 2 miles at the Swim Serpentine event on 20th September in Hyde Park to raise money for MRN 🏊‍♀️ Fundraisers like her make a huge difference to small charities like us and will help us support migrants to lead their own movements for change! Donate to her fundraiser: buff.ly/XIfRB1K

Despite another weekend of racist demonstrations outside #asylum accommodation, some MPs kicked off the week by parroting far-right lies that attribute systemic sexual violence with so-called 'small boats' crossings.

✊ This needs to end. It's time to push back buff.ly/KFkOZbl

We're excited to share that we have opened up our challenge events spots for next year:
🔹 1 London Marathon spot - 27th April 2026
🔸 3 Brighton Marathon spots - 12th April 2026
✨ 3 GetPro Bath Half spots - 15th March 2026

Email us at fundraising@migrantsrights.org.uk to find out more!

Be gay, do rage 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈

We were honoured to speak at London Trans+ Pride on Saturday to march with the Migrant Solidarity Bloc, celebrate our existence and join the call for resistance. If you missed us, check out our speech over on TikTok buff.ly/Vok7Lt4 💅
#TransPride #MigrantsRights

Stop saying 'legitimate concerns'. Nothing justifies racist riots

Anti-migrant violence has continued to break out across the country from Ballymena and Epping while demonstrations outside asylum accommodation have become the norm. All under the warped guise of protecting communities, and women and girls. Meanwhile, politicians and the media continue to reinforce the idea that rioters have “legitimate concerns” about migration.

But let’s be clear: there aren’t ‘legitimate concerns’ about migration. The majority of people are concerned about healthcare, housing, climate change and the escalating cost of living - all of which are the product of consecutive government policy failures and corporate greed. Moreover, these demonstrations do nothing to fight issues impacting community under-funding or systemic violence against women and girls.

Attributing anti-migrant attacks and rhetoric as just a ‘concern’ dilutes anti-migrant sentiments as something passive or acceptable, and devoid of racism. When fascist-led demonstrations and attacks are not seen as racist, it allows them to become normalised. It means people can say they have “legitimate concerns about migration” with impunity and no fear of being called racist.

A year on from the racist riots of 2024, we clearly haven't learnt anything.

Anti-migrant racism has ramped up and the far-right are strengthening their foothold. So let's get something straight: there are no 'legitimate concerns' about migration. #WordsMatter buff.ly/15sbuUO

Open letter from UK university staff: Request for biometric deferral and safe evacuation of incoming Palestinian students and scholars from Gaza to UK Universities More than 40 students currently trapped in Gaza with full scholarships to UK Universities are asking for a safe route to come and study. We, the academic community hoping to welcome these scholars,…

Over 40 students in Gaza are currently facing administrative blocks that are preventing them from starting their studies this September. We are asking all academics and university staff to sign the open letter here: buff.ly/Dr3uEon #palestine #internationalstudents

Joining the Migrant Solidarity Bloc at Trans+ Pride on Saturday? 🏳️‍⚧️
We’ll meet at the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square at 2:45pm to join the main march and a rep from MRN will be speaking at around 6:20pm. Head over to LT+P's Instagram to find out more detail buff.ly/dlrgEYL

New Skilled Salary Changes came into force on 22nd July 🔈 These changes concern increases to required so-called skill and salary thresholds, including limiting shortage occupations that people can be sponsored to fill. Find out more about the changes and how you get involved:
buff.ly/TxJdthg