Tag: immigration

Refugee Week Home Office Vigil Report – Reflection by Bishop Paul McAleenan

Refugee Week Prayer Vigil 2025
Bishop Paul McAleenan (l) and Br Johannes Maertens at the microphone

Source: Barbara Kentish

The list of names heard at the vigil on 16 June outside the Home Office were numerous and distressing. They were a selection of people who died trying to reach Europe over the year from June 2023 to May 2024. 

The list was followed by a two minute silence to let the tragedies sink in, and then we heard a reflection from Bishop Paul McAleenan, spokesperson on migration for the Catholic Bishops’ conference. 

Attended by over 40 people, the ecumenical vigil follows the Christian imperative to mourn the tragic and horrifying deaths happening daily on Europe’s borders.

Bishop Paul, referring to the scripture account of the Flight into Egypt, said: ‘ Rachel mourned for the children killed as Jesus escaped with his family to Egypt. You are all ‘Rachel, mourning for her children, as you lament so many people fleeing persecution and war.’

This is an ecumenical vigil, on the third Monday of the month at 12.30pm. All are welcome.

Next Home Office Vigil: Monday, 21st July, 12.30pm.

There will be a further vigil on 28th July 2025, from the same co-ordinating group and co-sponsored by Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, for those who have died in Gaza over the last year. This will take place at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office off Whitehall, also at 12.30pm.

For information contact barbarakentish11@gmail.com or johanmaertens@hotmail.com

Bishop Paul McAleenan’s Reflection

To understand a person you have to know them. Knowledge of others is a necessary step towards understanding them. Often when migrants and displaced persons are spoken of what rises to the surface is statistics. Statistics reveal the extent and depth of affliction suffered by so many, but we must never forget that migration is about real people. When we encounter them, we know them as they really are and come to understand them.

Today we begin Refugee Week, the theme, ‘Community as a Super Power’. We salute the communities who this week through events and campaigns and initiatives are making a special effort to educate themselves and understand the realities behind migration. We honour the communities and individuals whose language and outlook is not, ‘we must protect ourselves’ but ‘we must listen and understand’. In listening we learn that migration for those without documents and status is not the result of a free decision. Within the term ‘enforced migration’ falls well known reasons, war, persecution, climate emergency, famine.

What about those whose details have been supplied to us whose names are contained within these the handouts we have received? Here we read of the man who left his home in Pakistan to earn money to repay his debts and support his family, of another who left home to earn money to support his disabled brother, and again of the one whose desire was to work so that he could build a roof for his family home.

To have to leave your country so that your family can have decent life is also enforced migration. The resources of our planet as we know are not for the benefit of a few. The principle of Catholic Social Teaching ‘The Universal Destination of Goods’ meaning the earth’s resources must be shared is not a principle for academia and debate but one which must have practical application. In other words people have right to leave their country to seek better opportunities for themselves and their families, they may not want to but they have to.

When migration is not the result of a free decision there is an even greater need to support that migrant, to accompany them, building bridges not walls, to expand channels for safe and regular migration, as Pope Francis, to whom we are so greatly indebted for his leadership on this matter said.

A community ready to welcome, protect, promote and integrate the newly arrived immigrant is essential.

Unfortunately there is not always a welcoming community. We are aware of the events in Northern Ireland last week. Incidents that the PSNI denounced as ‘racist thuggery’.

As we stand outside this building today conscious of the plight of refugees we think also of recently issued White Paper on Immigration We counter the introductory remarks on the White Paper with the reminder that essential work carried out every day by people in low paid, low skilled roles must be recognised and valued. For many migrants such jobs are the first step to becoming fully integrated. Without their contribution, dedication and hard work our hospitals, schools and care homes might not function. Their lives have enriched ours.

As we begin this year’s Refugee Week we implore all those involved in migration issues, be cautious in your words, let them be devoid of attempts to gain party political advantage; have listening and understanding as an essential component in your dealings with compassion in your decisions.

Despite our concerns there is room for hope. Today we express our support and admiration for those communities in our country who in this Refugee Week are implementing initiatives which reach out to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers offering them a welcome.

Bishop McAleenan Responds to Government White Paper on Immigration

Photo: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Source: CBCEW

Following the recent publication of the government’s White Paper on immigration, Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, called on the government to reconsider the important role of immigration in shaping our shared history, and highlighted the vital contribution of those in low-wage, low-skilled employment.

Bishop McAleenan said:

“Whilst the Government’s commitment to skills training and education is understandable, I urge the government to carefully consider its approach to so-called ‘low-skilled work’ which is often carried out by those who come from abroad.

“We must remember the words of Pope Francis in Fratelli tutti, written in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic: ‘…our lives are interwoven with and sustained by ordinary people valiantly shaping the decisive events of our shared history: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caretakers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests and religious… They understood that no one is saved alone.’

“The essential work carried out every day by people in low-paid, low-skilled roles must be recognised and valued. For many migrants, such jobs are the first step on the way to becoming fully integrated into our society. Without their contribution, dedication and hard work, our hospitals, schools, and care homes might not be able to function. The Catholic Church in England and Wales has been enriched by migrants throughout its recent history. Our ethnic chaplaincies, eparchies and schools have been models of integration.

“I also appeal to our political leaders, of all parties, whom we have entrusted with shaping the future of our country, to refrain from using rhetoric that risks sowing mistrust, fear, or division. Such language is unhelpful and serves only to create unnecessary fractures within our communities.

“To our Catholic community and all people of goodwill, I encourage you to welcome migrants into your communities with open hearts, offering friendship and support. In doing so, we help ensure that no one is left behind, undervalued or made to feel isolated.”

Seeking Sanctuary Latest News – Justice and Dignity for Migrants

Monthly Prayer Vigil outside the Home Office – next Vigil 17 March 2025

Source: Ben Bano and Phil Kerton

According to the Pas-de-Calais prefecture, “in 2024, 77 people died trying to reach Great Britain aboard a small boat”, a record since the start in 2018 of the use of this means of crossing the Channel. According to British authorities, in 2024, 36,816 migrants managed to cross the Channel on boats, 25% more than in 2023.

According to the count of migrant aid associations, which also includes deaths on land, 89 exiles died on the coast of northern France in 2024. Support groups and political parties organised a march “for justice and dignity” in Calais recently to draw attention to these figures.

First deaths of 2025

The body of Abdul Raheem, a Yemeni aged around 24, was discovered on the morning of 22 January on the sand of Salines beach at Sangatte, facing England, where illegal boats regularly depart.

On the night of Friday to Saturday, 11 January, Suleiman, a Syrian migrant in his early twenties, died at Sangatte during an attempt to cross the Channel. He was one of about 60 people who left on a small boat, only to return very soon, soaked to the skin, leaving the victim on the floor of the boat in a state of cardio-respiratory arrest, probably crushed by the others.

In the early hours of 4 February, a Portuguese driver found the body of a migrant at the side of the A16 motorway near Calais. He was of Eritrean origin and had been hit by a truck.

The prefecture states that two people have been arrested as part of an investigation opened by the Boulogne public prosecutor’s office and entrusted to the office for combating illicit migrant trafficking.

Small boats

According to a 2024 report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, there has been the rise in the use of ‘small hands’ – migrants who recruit others for the smuggling gangs, helping them to fill their boats. They recruit migrants of their own nationality or ethnicity and know the embarkation points from the beaches, working in groups to prepare and launch boats.

These middle men in the supply chain may charge for their service – a fee of between €1,000 and €1,500 for each boat that leaves the French shore. With up to four hands working on a boat, this is an additional cost for the smuggler of up to €6,000 (on condition that if the boat is intercepted no payment is made). The hands sometimes recruit a third person to act as ‘security’, for which they are paid €200 to €500, or a free passage on a boat after they have worked some shifts. The hands can make some extra cash by adding their own clients to the boats, increasing the overcrowding.

Some smugglers have developed low-cost options for poorer clients (for example, Sudanese and Eritreans), who are offered passage for around €1000. To make up the margins, smugglers may load the boats with more low-paying customers.

Allegedly, for those migrants, generally from sub-Saharan Africa, who cannot afford the crossing, even at a low fee, there is still hope in the shape of what are known in local jargon as ‘zig-zag’ brokers. For a fee of €100 to €400, these brokers take a migrant to a point on the coast where a boat is being prepared for launch, so that the migrant can attempt to board it, by force if necessary, without paying the fare. The migrants already on board often have little option but to comply.

The Vietnamese phenomenon

In recent months, more Vietnamese nationals have attempted to cross the Channel in small boats than any other nationality. Many wonder why so many risk their lives trying to reach Britain. On one hand, Vietnam is a rapidly growing economy, often referred to as “mini-China”. Over the past two decades, per capita income has increased eightfold and the country boasts beautiful landscapes and a vibrant culture, attracting tourists from around the world. Yet, despite these advancements, many Vietnamese feel a sense of “relative deprivation.”

The country is a one-party Communist state, where political dissent is not tolerated. While most Vietnamese have learned to navigate this system, the lack of political freedom and economic disparity between urban and rural areas drives many to seek opportunities abroad. Average wages remain low, especially in rural areas, where many workers lack job security.

The desire to migrate is deeply rooted in Vietnam’s history. In the 1970s and 1980s, many fled the country due to economic hardships and political repression. The shift in the economy in 1986, which opened Vietnam to global markets, fuelled a new wave of migration. The narrative of “catching up and getting rich” became prevalent, leading many to believe that success lay beyond their borders. Families pool resources to finance the migration of one member, hoping they will send money back home to improve living standards. This cycle perpetuates the desire to leave, even as the risks grow.

Events in Calais

Despite the hardcore survival conditions with storms and negative temperatures, the ‘Severe Cold Plan’ hangar was only open to take in people from the street for 15 nights. Furthermore, they have to take a bus to get there and must be gone by 9am sharp the next morning. When it is unoccupied (i.e. almost the rest of the year) the hangar is closed and monitored.

Harassment and evictions remain the norm. Every 48 hours, four to seven living spaces are cleared without a legal framework. People are arrested and tents, tarpaulins and personal belongings regularly stolen.

The ‘BMX Site’ near the Town Hall has been fenced off and cleared by order of the town council which has also requested the “evacuation” of migrants surviving under two bridges and on two quays. Likewise, the ‘Fontinettes’ camp has been cleared and fenced off to prevent people from resettling. Witnesses say that police turn up every morning in Black Mercedes, using batons to wake up and arrest people in tents.

Vocabulary in the UK

The word “illegal” has been one of the terms most strongly associated with migrants in UK parliamentary debates over the past 25 years, research by the Runnymede Trust has found.

After Theresa May’s 2012 pledge to “create a hostile environment for illegal immigrants”, media coverage containing hostile rhetoric around migration and migrants more than doubled (a 137% increase) compared with the two years before.

It seems plausible that the acceptance of such language may have supported growth in racial unrest, especially given a scarcity of well-presented factual media accounts that speak well of migrants.

Ben Bano writes: 

The demonisation continues …

Have we lost all sense of proportion? Have we been infected by ‘Trumpism’? Across Europe migrants and refugees are seen as a threat to civil order and anyone who does not have a white skin is suspect. The narrative fostered by Angela Merkel has given way to something much more sinister which conflates migration with a threat to our society – never mind the fact that our care homes and farms would be severely affected by reductions in migration. We need to put a halt to the point scoring between the two major parties on who can do better on halting migration. 

And can we find ways of being prophets of hope in responding to these events, as major parts of the world are affected by climate change, war, and much else? Those of us who are activists need to continue to speak out about the tragic effects of climate change which is an existential threat to so many, particularly in Africa. A recent estimate by the UN suggested that 420 million people are affected by climate change, drought, and war. The latest news from Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo suggests that another tide of displaced people is very possible, adding to the millions who are seeking refuge from Syria, Sudan, and other war zones and areas of unrest.

We need to talk about global citizenship and our responsibilities to help those around us, not least to our MPs. In terms of awareness raising of the issues I fear that we are going backwards at a time when Trumpism and allied ideologies are making too much headway.

A Vigil sponsored by Westminster Justice and Peace, London Catholic Worker and the London Churches Refugee Fund, is held outside the Home Office from 12.30pm-1.30pm, 2 Marsham St SW1, on the third Monday of each month to pray for migrants who have died attempting to reach England. The next one will be on 17 March 2025.

LINK

Seeking Sanctuary: https://seekingsanctuary.weebly.com/

Sunday 29 September: World Day of Migrants and Refugees

In a message to mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Paul McAleenan has praised the Catholic community in England and Wales for the generous welcome and kindness many offer to refugees and migrants.

“Fundamental to our Christian faith is the belief that we are all a pilgrim people on our journey to our true homeland. God is with us and we travel together,” says Bishop McAleenan, the Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees for the Bishops’ Conference. “They are looking for a place to settle, where they can live in peace with their families and have the opportunity to prosper. They are, indeed, a pilgrim people. And God walks with them.”

Bishop McAleenan believes that many parishes have responded positively to those fleeing harm and seeking sanctuary to rebuild their lives:

“I wish to thank all of you in parishes and communities who are providing support and welcome to migrants and refugees who reach these shores… There are many, many parishes in this country who have positively responded to the stranger seeking asylum… Surely through your actions, migrants and refugees who experience such hospitality can more easily believe that God is with them.”

Participation

The theme of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees is ‘God walks with His People’. We have many days of prayer in the Catholic calendar, so it is always useful to offer some practical advice to the faithful to encourage participation in the day.

“I’d like to suggest how you might celebrate this day in your parish, in your school or community,” says Bishop McAleenan. “Perhaps you can have a short prayer vigil, reflecting upon on a scripture passage which recounts how God accompanied his people on a long and dangerous journey through the desert and ask him to protect those on the move today.

“If you do have a prayer vigil, please invite migrants and refugees to join you. If your parish is blessed with grounds, you may consider having a procession – walking around the area in silence, or reciting an appropriate prayer – that would be a demonstration of solidary with all those on the move.

“If you know someone who is a refugee you may wish to invite them to join you and your friends for a tea or coffee. Why? Simply to encounter them – a word beloved by Pope Francis – to speak to them, to listen to their story, if they wish to share it.

“In such ways, we open our minds and hearts to our brothers and sisters and perhaps any prejudices or misunderstanding we may have will be dispelled.”

Saturday 28 September: An International Mass with the Ethnic Chaplaincies will be celebrated at Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Vincent Nichols