Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
UK charity publishes guide for councillors on immigration raids
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants published a guide for local councillors on responding to Home Office immigration raids in the UK.
The guide suggests councillors challenge officers, film raids and help people leave the scene, and press councils not to cooperate with enforcement.
It describes these actions as ways to resist raids targeting migrant communities.
The charity has received more than £1 million in legal aid since 2019 and £47,015 from the Home Office; it says the Home Office funding covered litigation costs awarded against the department.
In July, Lewisham became the first council to refuse cooperation with Home Office Immigration Enforcement, followed by five other Green-led London councils.
Reform politician Keith Prince said councils should cooperate with the Home Office to apply the law and protect vulnerable people.
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has published a guide for local councillors on resisting Home Office immigration raids.
The guide urges councillors to challenge officers, film raids and walk away with people being targeted.
The charity says councillor involvement is a statement of solidarity with communities targeted by raids.
The Daily Mail reports that six Green-led London councils have adopted policies refusing cooperation with Home Office Immigration Enforcement.
Reform’s Keith Prince said local authorities should cooperate with the Home Office to ensure the law is applied and vulnerable people are protected.
- Who
- The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants published the guide through its migrant champions network.
- What
- The guide advises councillors on resisting Home Office immigration raids.
- When
- It was reported on 14 November 2026.
- Where
- The guide is for local councillors in the UK.
- Why
- The guide says councillor involvement in resisting raids is a statement of solidarity with targeted communities.
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
Reform’s Keith Prince
Councillor involvement
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
The guide says councillors can show solidarity by actively resisting raids.
Reform’s Keith Prince
Prince says local authorities should cooperate with the Home Office.
Purpose of local authority policy
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
The guide urges councils to refuse cooperation with the Home Office.
Reform’s Keith Prince
Prince says cooperation helps ensure the law is applied and vulnerable people are protected.
Griff Ferris took part in a blockade of a removal centre at Gatwick Airport aimed at stopping a deportation flight to Jamaica.
Green-led Lewisham Council became the first council to refuse cooperation with Home Office Immigration Enforcement.
Five other Green-led London councils adopted the same policy.
The Daily Mail reported that the charity had published its guide for councillors.
- Guide title
- Resisting Immigration Raids – A Guide For Local Councillors
- Author
- Griff Ferris, JCWI advocacy and campaigns director
- Councillor signatories
- More than 160, according to the charity
- Councils adopting the policy
- Lewisham, Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Southwark and Haringey
1 source
What people are saying
Having councillors play an active role in resisting raids that target their communities is a strong statement of solidarity
Community resistance to raids can take the form of outreach work, awareness-raising or stopping raids when they happen
Cooperation between local authorities and the Home Office is required to ensure the law is applied and vulnerable people are protected, rather than adopting ridiculous activist-driven policies.