Statement on changes preventing refugee citizenship

HIAS+JCORE views with great concern the recent changes to the ‘Good Character’ guidance, which make it almost impossible for people who reached the UK irregularly to subsequently receive citizenship. This decision, which could deny more than 70,000 refugees the chance to gain British citizenship, is troubling to many within our community. 

As an organisation led by Jewish values – and one which is based within the Jewish community – we find this change particularly disturbing. The modern British Jewish story is of course one of seeking and finding refuge here. While it was not always easy, those who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries went on to become active and valued British citizens. They formed an integral part of our society – just as refugees today can, when given the chance. It is unconscionable that the same rights to citizenship our community benefited from could now be denied to others.  

We of course fully understand and support the Government’s desire to end dangerous cross-Channel journeys. No-one wants to see vulnerable people forced into such perilous situations. But it is simply not right that people should be punished for the lack of safe routes available to this country. As a community, we know all too well just how important these are. 

This is an important moment for compassionate government and leadership. Anti-refugee sentiment is on the rise across the Western world, and the far-right is in ascendancy. We saw this in the appalling violence targeting people seeking asylum in last summer’s riots. How we respond now, with elements of the press and certain political actors continuing to stoke tensions, is critical. 

So we are concerned that this policy change, which effectively deems a large group of people as unworthy of citizenship, will only create a growing sense of ‘us and them’ and an increased hostility towards refugees. At this time we cannot risk any move which could deepen division. 

The Torah teaches that ‘You should love the stranger, as you were strangers in Egypt’. We urge the Government to adopt this spirit and urgently repeal this change. Doing so would truly be a mark of humane and forward-thinking leadership, and allow those receiving refuge today to become full members of our communities – just as we British Jews did before.