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Pledge signed to fight anti-refugee laws
12/02/2024
“We want to ensure that we can continue to provide a safe haven for vulnerable people”
The Leader of Oxfordshire County Council has signed a pledge on behalf of the council to fight anti-refugee laws. The authority is seeking to become a recognised Council of Sanctuary.
As part of the pledge Liberal Democrat Councillor Liz Leffman has called for the government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act. She has also urged the government to withdraw from the UK-Rwanda partnership.
The pledge comes after a motion was passed by the council on November 7 last year saying that Oxfordshire remains proud of its history of welcoming into the county people from abroad who are seeking safety.
Councillor Leffman said: “Our ambition in Oxfordshire is to support a refugee and asylum system that ensures a warm welcome for all new arrivals and embraces and supports independent living for those staying in the county. Oxfordshire is enhanced by the contribution of a range of diverse communities living here and we are committed to playing our part in the overall national and international challenge. To that end, Oxfordshire County Council is looking to become a recognised Council of Sanctuary.
“We are very proud of our work and our partners throughout the years in supporting migrants fleeing dangerous situations, and helping them to settle in our communities.
“We want to ensure that we can continue to provide a safe haven for vulnerable people, especially young people and children. That’s why I have also written to the home secretary to reaffirm our stance on supporting asylum seekers here in Oxfordshire.”
Through the Oxfordshire Migration Partnership, the county council is already supporting many vulnerable people who have arrived in the county on a range of different schemes, including Homes for Ukraine, Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, the UK Resettlement Scheme and Hong Kong (British National Overseas).
Becoming a member of the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network will provide the County Council with a framework for developing the council’s future approach to supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam