Coronavirus: Home Office immigration policies ‘compounding’ health inequalities, says Sadiq Khan

Home Office immigration policies are “compounding” health inequalities during the coronavirus pandemic, creating destitution and encouraging discrimination against non-British communities, Sadiq Khan has said.

In a letter to the Home Secretary, seen by The Independent, the London mayor calls on the department to lift certain restrictions on migrants in response to the virus outbreak, saying he is “deeply concerned” that some policies are risking Londoners’ public health.

“I am concerned that health inequalities are being compounded by immigration policies that can create destitution and perversely encourage discrimination against BAME and migrant Londoners,” he warns.

Mr Khan urged Priti Patel to suspend NHS charging regulations and data sharing with the Home Office, which he said were “undermining” efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19 and leaving many key workers and their families exposed and unable to afford the treatment and care they need.

“We are now seeing evidence that they are failing Londoners who are fearful of coming forward for support during a global pandemic and hearing devastating reports of people dying in their homes or suffering in silence,” the letter states.

He also calls on the Home Office to extend all non-UK national visas for those working in the frontline and offer full citizenship rights to NHS and care workers, who he said had ”risked — and continue to risk on a daily basis — their lives during the COVID-19 crisis”.

It comes after the Home Office was accused last week of causing foreign doctors and nurses in the NHS “unnecessary distress” after declaring they would have their visas extended free of charge — only to apparently narrow the group that would benefit to just those on Tier 2 visas. The terms of eligibility are still not clear.

The London mayor said he was “extremely concerned” to hear that there had already been confirmed cases of Covid-19 in immigration removal centres, and called on Ms Patel to consider that those held in detention who aren’t any danger to the public should be released “without delay”.

Mr Khan also urged the department to suspend both the habitual residence test and the no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition — which prevents people on certain visas from accessing state benefits — to enable people to get the support they need and to help stop the spread of the virus by those who feel they have no choice but to go out to work.

He adds in the letter: “I recognise and welcome some of the changes your department has already made to meet the needs of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, however, I remain deeply concerned that some policies are risking Londoners’ public health and I am writing today to ask you to go further.”

The Home Office was accused last week of prioritising its “tough” immigration practices over public health during the pandemic, after confirming it will continue to require asylum seekers to submit claims in person.

Leading charities said ministers were “fundamentally failing” to adapt asylum and immigration processes to protect the health and wellbeing of the nation, and that the department was instead “bending over backwards” to maintain its hostile environment policies.

A Home Office spokesperson said it would respond to the letter in due course, adding: “Right across the immigration system we are supporting people through this crisis, whether it is extending the visas of people unable to return home or giving free one-year extensions for frontline NHS health workers’ with visas due to expire.

“Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are being provided with free accommodation and we are making sure people who cannot normally access public services or funds, including protection for renters and those on zero-hour contracts, are supported.

“The High Court has ruled our approach to detention and coronavirus sensible and we will continue to take every step necessary to help people and keep people safe.”