Lewisham council is set to become the first local authority in the UK to ban its officers from cooperating with Home Office immigration enforcement teams, a move that echoes the stance of US cities like New York and San Francisco against ICE raids. The Green-run town hall will debate plans next week to refuse assistance with illegal working raids "wherever legally possible," accusing the Government of targeting communities "on the basis of race" and "intimidating workers."
Creating a Corridor of Sanctuary
The council aims to establish a "corridor of sanctuary" for migrants in London by collaborating with migrant organisations, anti-raids networks, law centres, and faith and community groups. This follows a 77% increase in illegal working raids since Labour came to power, with 261 raids in Lewisham alone last year. The Home Office said the rise is part of efforts to deter human traffickers.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: "ICE-style immigration raids tear people away from their families, their neighbours and their communities, and have no place in a decent society. I'm proud of brave, compassionate Green councils in London working to create a corridor of Sanctuary where nobody, no matter where they're from or what papers they have, has to live in fear of being snatched away from the place they call home."
Council Motion and Review
The council motion argues that sharing data with the Home Office for immigration enforcement is incompatible with the town hall's status as a "borough of sanctuary." Lewisham Mayor Liam Shrivastava, who took charge from Labour after the May local elections, said: "Under our Green administration, we are committing to a comprehensive review of council systems and processes with the aim of refusing to assist the Home Office or Immigration Enforcement teams during raids wherever legally possible. We will also work with other Green-led administrations to develop an anti-raids Sanctuary Corridor across the capital, and support local anti-raids efforts to help targeted migrant communities understand their legal rights."
Criticism of Previous Labour Administration
Hau-Yu Tam, cabinet member for sanctuary and healing, added: "During the last Lewisham Labour administration, Immigration Minister Mike Tapp came into our borough with a Sky News film crew to take part in raids on hardworking small businesses in Brockley and Catford. The Lewisham Green Group brought forward an earlier version of this motion condemning these attacks on our neighbours and calling for an end to cooperation with the raids, but the Labour administration shamefully filibustered it so it could not even be debated. Having met the migrant owners and workers whose businesses were targeted, I have heard first-hand about the terror these raids instil in already disadvantaged communities. Communities are targeted on the basis of race, while officers intimidate workers into believing they have no choice but to cooperate, even when they are acting beyond their legal powers."
Home Office Response
A Home Office spokesperson said: "While all immigration enforcement visits are intelligence led, we make no apology for joining forces with local authorities to enable information sharing and ultimately fighting criminals who fuel immigration crime. Since coming into power, we have increased Immigration Enforcement action to the highest level in British history. This has delivered an 83% rise in illegal working arrests and 77% rise in raids between July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025."
