Agenda item
Oxford stands for diversity, for fairer migration policy and against the far right (Proposed by Councillor Powell, Seconded by Councillor Jarvis)
Council notes:
1. Throughout the summer and into September, protests have taken place outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK, many directly organised by far-right groups.[1]
2. Over 100,000 people marched in London at a demonstration addressed by a number of far right figures.[2]
3. These demonstrations have also taken place on numerous occasions in Oxford outside the Kassam Stadium Holiday Inn.[3]
4. Alongside this, this summer also saw a racist attack on Central Oxford Mosque.[4]
5. Oxford City Council has consistently made clear that it wants to see a fairer migration system, that refugees are welcome in our city, and that policies like immigration detention and removal are harmful.[5] This was most recently and clearly illustrated through our obtaining of City of Sanctuary status.[6]
6. The government has recently announced new policies designed to create a more restrictive migration and asylum system, most notably through the suspension of family reunion.[7]
Council believes:
1. Oxford is a city proud of its diversity and its history of solidarity with people from all across the world.
2. The protests and attacks seen this summer are deeply worrying, and are designed to intimidate and divide our communities.
3. Attempts by politicians, media outlets and commentators to whip up hate and to blame migrants and refugees for the problems in our society should be condemned.
4. Hostile attitudes towards migrants are in part driven by central government policies which seek to create a more hostile environment for migrants and refugees.
5. Neither hotel accommodation, nor detention centres are fair, humane or suitable accommodation for people seeking asylum, and a drawn-out, lengthy process for reviewing asylum applications is harmful for those enduring it.
6. People seeking asylum should not be prevented from working while their claims are being processed.
7. Enabling family reunion is a basic cornerstone of a humane and fair asylum system and suspending it risks putting people who would otherwise be allowed to enter the UK in significant danger.
8. Hostile rhetoric and policies directed at migrants and people seeking asylum make many Oxford residents less safe by fueling xenophobia and racism.
Council resolves:
1. To request the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Safer Oxford:
1. Reiterate the council’s commitment to stand with and support all of Oxford’s diverse communities and to oppose attempts to divide and intimidate.
2. Write to the Home Secretary reiterating this council’s opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre and to the decision to suspend family reunion applications.
3. To publicly support and campaign for people seeking asylum to be permitted to work and accommodated within communities.
Decision:
Council resolved to:
Agree with the following motion:
Council notes:
1. Throughout the summer and into September, protests have taken place outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK, many directly organised by far-right groups.[1]
2. Over 100,000 people marched in London at a demonstration addressed by a number of far right figures.[2]
3. These demonstrations have also taken place on numerous occasions in Oxford outside the Kassam Stadium Holiday Inn.[3]
4. Alongside this, this summer also saw a racist attack on Central Oxford Mosque.[4]
5. Oxford City Council has consistently made clear that it wants to see a fairer migration system, that refugees are welcome in our city, and that policies like immigration detention and removal are harmful.[5] This was most recently and clearly illustrated through our obtaining of City of Sanctuary status.[6]
6. The government has recently announced new policies designed to create a more restrictive migration and asylum system, most notably through the suspension of family reunion.[7]
Council believes:
1. Oxford is a city proud of its diversity and its history of solidarity with people from all across the world.
2. The protests and attacks seen this summer are deeply worrying, and are designed to intimidate and divide our communities.
3. Attempts by politicians, media outlets and commentators to whip up hate and to blame migrants and refugees for the problems in our society should be condemned.
4. Hostile attitudes towards migrants are in part driven by central government policies which seek to create a more hostile environment for migrants and refugees.
5. Neither hotel accommodation, nor detention centres are fair, humane or suitable accommodation for people seeking asylum, and a drawn-out, lengthy process for reviewing asylum applications is harmful for those enduring it.
6. People seeking asylum should not be prevented from working while their claims are being processed.
7. Enabling family reunion is a basic cornerstone of a humane and fair asylum system and suspending it risks putting people who would otherwise be allowed to enter the UK in significant danger.
8. Hostile rhetoric and policies directed at migrants and people seeking asylum make many Oxford residents less safe by fueling xenophobia and racism.
Council resolves:
1. To request the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Safer Oxford:
1. Reiterate the council’s commitment to stand with and support all of Oxford’s diverse communities and to oppose attempts to divide and intimidate.
2. Write to the Home Secretary reiterating this council’s opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre and to the decision to suspend family reunion applications.
3. To publicly support and campaign for people seeking asylum to be permitted to work and accommodated within communities
Minutes:
Councillor Powell, Seconded by Councillor Jarvis, proposed the motion as set out in the briefing note.
Council agreed to suspend standing orders to extend the meeting by 30 minutes to continue the debate on this motion.
Following the debate and on being put to a vote, the motion was agreed.
Council noted:
1. Throughout the summer and into September, protests have taken place outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK, many directly organised by far-right groups.[1]
2. Over 100,000 people marched in London at a demonstration addressed by a number of far right figures.[2]
3. These demonstrations have also taken place on numerous occasions in Oxford outside the Kassam Stadium Holiday Inn.[3]
4. Alongside this, this summer also saw a racist attack on Central Oxford Mosque.[4]
5. Oxford City Council has consistently made clear that it wants to see a fairer migration system, that refugees are welcome in our city, and that policies like immigration detention and removal are harmful.[5] This was most recently and clearly illustrated through our obtaining of City of Sanctuary status.[6]
6. The government has recently announced new policies designed to create a more restrictive migration and asylum system, most notably through the suspension of family reunion.[7]
Council resolved that it believes:
1. Oxford is a city proud of its diversity and its history of solidarity with people from all across the world.
2. The protests and attacks seen this summer are deeply worrying, and are designed to intimidate and divide our communities.
3. Attempts by politicians, media outlets and commentators to whip up hate and to blame migrants and refugees for the problems in our society should be condemned.
4. Hostile attitudes towards migrants are in part driven by central government policies which seek to create a more hostile environment for migrants and refugees.
5. Neither hotel accommodation, nor detention centres are fair, humane or suitable accommodation for people seeking asylum, and a drawn-out, lengthy process for reviewing asylum applications is harmful for those enduring it.
6. People seeking asylum should not be prevented from working while their claims are being processed.
7. Enabling family reunion is a basic cornerstone of a humane and fair asylum system and suspending it risks putting people who would otherwise be allowed to enter the UK in significant danger.
8. Hostile rhetoric and policies directed at migrants and people seeking asylum make many Oxford residents less safe by fueling xenophobia and racism.
Council resolved:
1. To request the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Safer Oxford:
1. Reiterate the council’s commitment to stand with and support all of Oxford’s diverse communities and to oppose attempts to divide and intimidate.
2. Write to the Home Secretary reiterating this council’s opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre and to the decision to suspend family reunion applications.
3. To publicly support and campaign for people seeking asylum to be permitted to work and accommodated within communities.