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THREAD: An incredibly important legal challenge which draws attention to the way the Home Office views charities who have contracts with them and manipulates data-sharing. The entire reason why a firewall is needed between HO and all services. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/30/british-trafficking-victim-sues-priti-patel-alleging-abuse-of-personal-data?CMP=share_btn_tw
For a long time migrants/victims of trafficking/asylum seekers have been afraid of engaging with charities with Home Office contracts. Charities have bad reputations because they share data/report. The effects stretch to orgs who don't take HO contracts - trust is low.
Some organisations abide by the Govt. rules which is to report undocumented migrants or those with irregular status to the HO instead of trying to get them their rights. It's a disgrace and a violation of rights. You should never be put in danger when you're seeking help.
At the same time, migrant communities are exposed to so many harms through Government policy, xenophobia etc. Funding and resources for migrant justice is low - often targeted more at refugee services. At some point, money has to come from somewhere in order to meet the demand.
The Home Office is able to manipulate this problem with supply/demand through its contracts. And as this case shows - viewing charity workers as "Home Office agents". That's next level dystopia. It's good to see charities standing against this alongside people affected.
And here is where the Hostile Environment comes into play as it allows for, encourages and puts in place data-sharing agreements between immigration enforcement, public services including NHS/policing and other Government departments.
These agreements stop people from accessing healthcare, support services and even coming forward if they've been the victim of a crime - including trafficking. People have had their mental heath files used against them, been arrested when reporting rape, and died needing a Dr.
These agreements are shady, illicit, manipulative, costly to the public purse and are virtually impossible to trace how the Home Office uses them. It is vital that there is a firewall between immigration enforcement and EVERYTHING else. https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/campaign/challenge-hostile-environment-data-sharing/
