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21 August 2013 PRESS RELEASE Reference: Jamima Fagta, Project Officer, Kanlungan Filipino Alliance, +447538 797963 Pinoy community groups slams UK’s ‘Go Home’ Vans; joins UK migrant advocacy groups to oppose it Kanlungan UK[i], the only Alliance of Filipino organisations in the country criticised the UK Border Agency’s controversial ‘Go Home or face arrested’ advert vans which was seen driven around London boroughs with high immigrant community residents last July. “On behalf of the Filipino community, we register our concern on this racist immigration enforcement by the UKBA,” said Jamima Fagta, the project officer of Kanlungan. “Migrants come to this country for various reasons – and most fall into irregular status or become undocumented due to the unfair changes in immigration policies. Criminalising migrants and creating a hostile environment will not solve the immigration issue but will only create divisions, fear and racial tensions between communities – be it local or migrant,” she added. Refugee Action, the organisation responsible for administering voluntary returns programme in the UK was “outraged and appalled” by the UKBA’s action. Its chief executive Dave Garrett said that threat of “or face arrest” is counter-effective to its voluntary return programme, which relies on people being supported so that they can make an informed choice about their own future.  Meanwhile, concerned local and immigrant community groups and advocates have begun actions to counter the UK government’s controversial immigration enforcement campaign as “spot” immigration checks targeting foreign-looking people had occurred days after the vans were seen driven around London. “Kanlungan are in solidarity and extends our full support commitment in the various initiatives by the Migrants Rights Network, the Waltham Migrants Action Group, Liberty, Refugee and Migrant Forum of East London, among others to ensure that migrants rights – whether documented or undocumented are protected and upheld.” said Fagta. Workshops and public meeting supporting immigrants and migrant advocates to campaign against crackdown by the UKBA have been on going throughout London, pointing out that ‘speculative’ immigration checks are ‘unlawful’ and subsequently publishing a leaflet on ‘know your rights’ setting out what to do if you are checked on the streets or see a migrant being checked.[ii] Kanlungan Alliance have campaigned for migrants senior care workers who have become undocumented due to the unfair changes in immigration policies in 2006 and still continue working towards the rights and welfare of the immigrant community in Britain. “We call on Filipino migrant workers and their families to unite with other migrant communities as well as the local population in demanding a stop to the current campaign of intimidation to the im/migrant community by the UKBA through adverts and spot checks,” Fagta ended.  ## [i] Kanlungan Filipino Alliance is a registered charity in the UK consisting of various Filipino community organisations working together for the welfare and interests of the Filipino community in Britain. The current member organisations are as follows: Bahay Kubo Housing Association Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP-UK) Lingap Filipino Association Philippine Theatre UK Filipino Domestic Workers’ Association (FDWA-UK) Kanlungan Filipino Alliance is a member of Migrante International, Migrante Europe, International Migrants Alliance (IMA) and the Platform for the International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) ***********