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Life at the migrant centre: 'You’re changing lives, that's what keeps you going' Life at the migrant centre: 'You’re changing lives, that's what keeps you going'
(21 days later)
It’s a Friday morning in Wolverhampton, and the local branch of the Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC) is teeming with people seeking advice. Despite the sombre reasons why many come to the RMC – homelessness, destitution, the threat of deportation – there is a jubilant atmosphere.It’s a Friday morning in Wolverhampton, and the local branch of the Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC) is teeming with people seeking advice. Despite the sombre reasons why many come to the RMC – homelessness, destitution, the threat of deportation – there is a jubilant atmosphere.
Babies gurgle and toddlers wheel toy trucks over the floor. Families have come to tell their stories of how the RMC helped them. A colourful display of thank you cards is spread across the wall. “Stay blessed,” says one.Babies gurgle and toddlers wheel toy trucks over the floor. Families have come to tell their stories of how the RMC helped them. A colourful display of thank you cards is spread across the wall. “Stay blessed,” says one.
Guardian and Observer appeal 2018: our chosen charitiesGuardian and Observer appeal 2018: our chosen charities
Ahmed Hassan is one of the thousands of people who have benefited from the RMC’s advice. When we meet, he has just been told he will receive a bravery award from West Midlands police for holding back a man who attacked an officer in the street and tried to run away. Hassan has not always been treated with such respect by the British authorities.Ahmed Hassan is one of the thousands of people who have benefited from the RMC’s advice. When we meet, he has just been told he will receive a bravery award from West Midlands police for holding back a man who attacked an officer in the street and tried to run away. Hassan has not always been treated with such respect by the British authorities.
He came to England as a refugee from Iraq after fleeing Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2000. He changed his name when he got to Britain for fear of being found. For seven years he lived happily, receiving his British passport in 2007; working as a taxi driver; visiting Iraq frequently and marrying and having four children there. He changed his name back to his birth name, then, in February 2016, the Home Office contacted Hassan to be interviewed over his British citizenship. His British passport, which he had sent to be renewed, still has not been handed back.He came to England as a refugee from Iraq after fleeing Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2000. He changed his name when he got to Britain for fear of being found. For seven years he lived happily, receiving his British passport in 2007; working as a taxi driver; visiting Iraq frequently and marrying and having four children there. He changed his name back to his birth name, then, in February 2016, the Home Office contacted Hassan to be interviewed over his British citizenship. His British passport, which he had sent to be renewed, still has not been handed back.
In the 14 months while he waited for his interview, he became destitute, sleeping on friends’ sofas, unable to work or claim benefits. “There was so much stress. One of my children has brain damage and the other has autism, but they are both in Iraq with my sick 80-year-old father – I couldn’t visit them for fear of not being allowed back in the country,” he says.In the 14 months while he waited for his interview, he became destitute, sleeping on friends’ sofas, unable to work or claim benefits. “There was so much stress. One of my children has brain damage and the other has autism, but they are both in Iraq with my sick 80-year-old father – I couldn’t visit them for fear of not being allowed back in the country,” he says.
This didn’t register with the Home Office, who ignored multiple letters from Hassan. “I didn’t understand. After 17 years in this country paying taxes, how could they hold my passport for no reason?”This didn’t register with the Home Office, who ignored multiple letters from Hassan. “I didn’t understand. After 17 years in this country paying taxes, how could they hold my passport for no reason?”
She was pregnant, scared and about to be deported – then the lawyers stepped inShe was pregnant, scared and about to be deported – then the lawyers stepped in
After the RMC’s intervention this year, he found out he would be sent a new naturalisation certificate that would allow him to visit his father and children again. “I am so grateful. The RMC have respect for people. You are always a priority. Even though the Home Office ignored me for so long, every time I came here I felt hopeful,” says Hassan.After the RMC’s intervention this year, he found out he would be sent a new naturalisation certificate that would allow him to visit his father and children again. “I am so grateful. The RMC have respect for people. You are always a priority. Even though the Home Office ignored me for so long, every time I came here I felt hopeful,” says Hassan.
The RMCs chief executive, Arten Llazari, and his right-hand man, Mohammed Mustafa, set up the charity in response to their own experiences entering the country as asylum seekers. “There was nothing for us so we had to set this up, to challenge the unfairness of the immigration system,” says Llazari. “We keep the door open for everybody and build the service around them, even though [public] funding in this area has been virtually nonexistent since 2010.”The RMCs chief executive, Arten Llazari, and his right-hand man, Mohammed Mustafa, set up the charity in response to their own experiences entering the country as asylum seekers. “There was nothing for us so we had to set this up, to challenge the unfairness of the immigration system,” says Llazari. “We keep the door open for everybody and build the service around them, even though [public] funding in this area has been virtually nonexistent since 2010.”
The RMC, which is one of five beneficiaries of the Guardian and Observer 2018 charity appeal, has about 80 clients on any given day, and its staff speak more than 40 languages between them. There is an MP’s surgery on site and a lawyer who gives legal advice for free one day a week. Nearly half of its staff are former volunteers, many having joined after getting immigration advice from the charity.The RMC, which is one of five beneficiaries of the Guardian and Observer 2018 charity appeal, has about 80 clients on any given day, and its staff speak more than 40 languages between them. There is an MP’s surgery on site and a lawyer who gives legal advice for free one day a week. Nearly half of its staff are former volunteers, many having joined after getting immigration advice from the charity.
It was the RMC caseworker Daniel Ashwell who alerted the Guardian reporter Amelia Gentleman in 2017 to the case that led to the uncovering of the Windrush scandal. His client Paulette Wilson was due to be deported after living in Britain for half a century, working, paying taxes and building a family. The resulting public outrage resulted in Wilson being given leave to remain.It was the RMC caseworker Daniel Ashwell who alerted the Guardian reporter Amelia Gentleman in 2017 to the case that led to the uncovering of the Windrush scandal. His client Paulette Wilson was due to be deported after living in Britain for half a century, working, paying taxes and building a family. The resulting public outrage resulted in Wilson being given leave to remain.
Ashwell talks about the effort that goes into each case: sourcing documents, contacting a client’s former places of work and schools to build up a history of their right to be in the UK, only to sometimes get turned away by the Home Office for “spurious” reasons.Ashwell talks about the effort that goes into each case: sourcing documents, contacting a client’s former places of work and schools to build up a history of their right to be in the UK, only to sometimes get turned away by the Home Office for “spurious” reasons.
“When you work within this system you get used to how unfairly people are treated. People are ignored without any concern for their position,” says Ashwell. But it is all worthwhile, he says. “You’re changing people’s lives, making a difference to their day-to-day happiness. That’s what keeps you going.”“When you work within this system you get used to how unfairly people are treated. People are ignored without any concern for their position,” says Ashwell. But it is all worthwhile, he says. “You’re changing people’s lives, making a difference to their day-to-day happiness. That’s what keeps you going.”
The RMC is a vital bulwark against immigration injustices. “The Windrush scandal was so powerful because those people should have never ever been messed about. Paulette Wilson was here for 49 years – but imagine you’re a single mother who’s only been here 15 years and you haven’t been engaging with services,” says Llazari. “Without the RMC you’d have no chance.”The RMC is a vital bulwark against immigration injustices. “The Windrush scandal was so powerful because those people should have never ever been messed about. Paulette Wilson was here for 49 years – but imagine you’re a single mother who’s only been here 15 years and you haven’t been engaging with services,” says Llazari. “Without the RMC you’d have no chance.”
Please donate to our appeal here.Please donate to our appeal here.
Please donate to our appeal here.Please donate to our appeal here.
SocietySociety
Guardian and Observer charity appeal 2018Guardian and Observer charity appeal 2018
RefugeesRefugees
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
Windrush scandalWindrush scandal
Commonwealth immigrationCommonwealth immigration
Social exclusionSocial exclusion
PovertyPoverty
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