UK Parliament / Open data

Nationality and Borders Bill

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply and for the care he took to try to answer the various questions. Of course, I will withdraw the amendment at this stage, but I have to say to the Minister that there is a very real issue out there around immigration enforcement vis-à-vis victims, those who have been trafficked or those who have been trafficked and subjected to domestic abuse. The system at the moment commands no confidence or trust among a wide range of people who need our support and help. They are terrified of the immigration system. They are terrified that, as soon as they co-operate with the police to help bring criminal gangs to justice, they will be put before an immigration tribunal and forced to

leave the country. That may be wrong and there may be protocols that say that that is not correct and police officers who reassure them, but that is the reality of victim after victim I meet and no doubt many others in this Chamber meet. I am sure the Minister will have met victims who say exactly the same. Despite the reassurances, that is what they feel. These are the victims that we speak to—goodness knows how many others there are who hide away for fear of authority and for fear of that enforcement process. The Government are clearly aware of it and believe that what they are doing will change it. To be frank, I have my doubts, but we will see where it gets to. With those comments, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
818 c1523 
Session
2021-22
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
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