NCADC Campaigning Toolkit
Emotional support is an essential part of both public and non-public campaigns. The emotional support element of a campaign is one of the main reasons many campaigns can be considered successful, even if a legal action eventually decides the outcome of the campaign, or indeed even if deportation is not ultimately prevented.
Seeing how many people care about a campaign can be of great comfort to the person at risk of deportation – whether this is close supporters they know personally, or unknown supporters taking actions for their campaign. The asylum and immigration systems are incredibly dehumanising, and so being able to see the love and support of friends, community members and supporters is very important.
This support is important in itself. It may also encourage other positive outcomes. The person at risk can feel that a campaign gives them a sense of political engagement (especially if they are political activists and feel that their experiences in the UK have stripped them of their political identity). A campaign may boost their morale meaning they have more strength to pursue lengthy and difficult legal procedures.
Many asylum seekers find support and strength from their faith and from regular practice of prayer in their tradition. They also find supporters in their local mosque, church or tradition and these are important sources of inspiration for many campaign groups. These faith groups can offer venues for meetings and a sense of sanctuary from the rigours and worries of the asylum system. In a secular country like the UK, the faith dimensions of campaigns are often overlooked in favour of other forms campaigning, but faith communities have a long tradition of action for justice in the UK and are disproportionately involved in providing support for asylum seekers and refugees through a range of charities. If you are a person who draws strength and support from your faith and from a faith community that prays with you and for you, then you may find this to be important for both emotional support and for gathering together a campaign.
Even if the campaign does not stop the deportation, the person facing deportation may feel empowered by having fought to the end, and having not gone silently. Campaigns can give migrants a voice in a system that seeks to silence them.
CASE STUDY
A is a gay man from Sierra Leone, whose asylum application was initially refused under the old rules that allowed the Home Office to rule that LGBT people could return to their home country and be ‘discreet’ about their sexual orientation to avoid persecution. He refused to return, and was surviving without any state housing or benefits, and suffering from depression, always worried about being detained and deported.
He approached NCADC for help, and we referred him for support to a gay men’s health group, and a local community organisation. Following the change in asylum case law, where the ‘go home and be discreet’ rule was overturned, NCADC referred A to a solicitor, to prepare a fresh claim under the new rules.
Despite the change in case law, UKBA intensified their efforts to remove A, requiring him to sign more frequently, and demanding that he attend weekly interviews to discuss returning to Sierra Leone, getting photographs taken to prepare travel documents. A found this experience, which went on for several months, very intimidating and stressful.
A began to text NCADC every time he went to report and sign at UKBA, so that we would be able to act quickly and contact his solicitor and friends if he was detained. Campaign materials were already prepared in case of an emergency. Eventually, A’s solicitor submitted a fresh claim. It was accepted, and refugee status was granted.
A told NCADC that without the support during this period he would not have been able to stand up to the Home Office, or engage with his solicitor to put in a fresh claim, and he would probably have been deported
Going through the asylum and immigrations system is very difficult and stressful. Sometimes it can be hard to think about anything else. But constant worry about your case can leave you feeling emotionally exhausted, and less able to cope with the process.
Everyone has a different way of coping – think about what works for you. While your immigration status is of course very important, it’s also important to try and give yourself a break from thinking about it. Think about activities that can distract you or help you relax for at least a short period every day, which can help your mind and body recover a little.
You may find being around friends helpful; or praying or attending a place of worship. Some people find going for a walk, getting fresh air, or doing some other kind of exercise makes them feel a bit better. Others find distraction in playing with their children; or watching television; reading a book; dancing; listening to music. It can be helpful to keep busy through activities such as making things – sewing and knitting, for example. Cooking and eating healthily can help, as can trying to have a good sleep routine (this is sometimes called sleep hygiene: while worry can make sleep difficult, certain things like making sure you get up and try to go to bed at the same time every day; avoiding caffeine in the afternoons and evenings; not eating spicy foods or a heavy meal too close to bedtime, can help).
There are very simple relaxation techniques that can be useful for calming down your mind, and are easy to do during the day or if you’re trying to get to sleep. There are different techniques available easily on the internet, if you google 'relaxation techniques'.
(See also: ‘After Deportation’.) To be able to provide emotional support to somebody facing removal/deportation, campaign supporters need to make sure they are looking after their own well-being.
Most campaign group members are non-paid workers who have a lot going on in their lives, and sometimes their own asylum and immigration situations to deal with. Mutual support and self-care are essential for sustainable campaigning.
The Sheffield Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers uses a good mutual support model. People with a campaign are paired up with a campaign group member who works very closely with them. The pairs then also have regular big group meetings so concerns can be shared, and ideas suggested. This is important so people don’t feel isolated or overwhelmed, but allows for an effective, trusting relationship between the person at risk and the campaigner at the same time.
Anti-deportation campaigning may mean witnessing injustice, including a friend being deported. Making sure you look after your own well-being as an individual, and that there are structures in place for mutual support within a campaign group, can help ensure that you have the emotional reserves to carry on fighting after a deportation. Campaigning is a long fight – there may be small victories along the way such a release from detention on bail, or the stopping of a flight, but in order to reach a positive decision, stamina and patience will be needed.
You should also beware of vicarious (secondary) trauma. This can happen when you work closely with, or frequently with, people who have experienced trauma. You may begin experiencing high levels of stress, including some of the symptoms of trauma and post- traumatic stress.
Because the issues at stake in migration campaigning can be so important, it is common to throw yourself into campaigns again and again. Burnout (sudden loss of motivation to continue) is a big problem in campaigning, and can be very damaging not just to the person directly experiencing it, but to the campaign they are involved in. With the highs, lows, and extreme stresses of the asylum and immigration systems, it’s important for supporters to represent stability and reliability as much as possible.
While the difficulties and dangers of supporting a person at risk of deportation are clear, the rewards can be great. You can meet amazing people, both migrants and their supporters. Campaigning can be fulfilling and invigorating: it’s an incredible feeling to fight for justice and human rights and to stand up and show that UKBA, the courts and the government do not speak for all of us.
TESTIMONY
A member of RAPAR in Manchester, who had an anti-deportation campaign and now assists other asylum seekers and migrants with their own campaigns, says:
The UKBA takes the control away from whoever who claims for asylum. This is control over a matter which can affect their lives and can even be defined to be a life and death situation at times. The fact that echoes in the individual’s head is that they can’t do anything about it and this is frustrating.
We put individuals in the core of their campaigns and get them to participate and get involved in the decision making process. By this they feel more in control and have their spirits lifted. They will always be accompanied by an experienced campaigner in making decisions, so we make sure they do not take a wrong turn or step and are always confident in the decisions. The second benefit of this system is our campaigners can work much more efficiently and be able to work on more campaigns as the work is shared.
