A charity is facing a social media backlash after guidance it provided to migrants, around navigating the government’s new one-in-one-out policy with France, was the subject of a front-page story in the Telegraph.
Bail for Immigration Detainees (BiD), which provides legal advice for people in detention, produced the guide in August, which includes letters people can write to fight deportation.
Current government guidelines state that welfare services must provide migrants held in detention centres with a “notebook” produced by BiD.
The Telegraph ran its story on 17 September, titled “Home Office charity guide for migrants to avoid deportation” in print and covered by other outlets like GB News, which accused BiD of “seeking to thwart” the deal with France.
Since then, users of X, Facebook and Instagram have criticised the charity for its support for migrants held in detention.
A BiD spokesperson said the “harassment and intimidation” underscores the importance of its work “ensuring access to justice and protecting [people’s] rights”.
People have also taken to social media to complain about Comic Relief, which previously provided BiD with £420,000 of funding.
Mounting threats from the far right
Meanwhile, charities including BiD, Care4Calais and Freedom from Torture, along with many lawyers, this week signed a statement of solidarity in the face of what they describe as mounting threats from the far right.
The statement says: "Divisive rhetoric, which fuels mistrust, misinformation and hostility towards migrants and migrant organisations, is placing our communities, staff and volunteers at serious risk. These attacks are not just words on a page – they have consequences.
"Communities are living in fear, our staff and volunteers are receiving abuse, and our offices are being targeted.
"The migration sector, already struggling with scarce resources, is now being forced to operate quietly, fearing that visibility will bring abuse or even physical danger.
"The result is a chilling effect: we’re being pressured into silence, unable to speak publicly about the injustices we witness every day. We know these are attempts to intimidate us and even to stop the essential support we give to communities that need it most.
"We urgently call for an end to the media narrative that is stoking the flames of division. Journalists and media outlets have a duty to act responsibly and with integrity, especially when it comes to their reporting, headlines and social media output."
BiD: ‘Our resolve is strengthened’
A spokesperson for BiD said: “As a result of our work providing vital legal information to people facing deportation, we have been subject to media and social media attacks.
“This harassment and intimidation only highlights the importance of our work of ensuring access to justice and protecting the rights of people who need it most. We have a strengthened resolve to continue the work we do.
“Our research shows that thousands of people are trapped in the immigration system without access to a lawyer or adequate legal advice.
“We will continue to provide our essential services and to highlight the systemic problems that exist within the UK immigration system.”
Other funding partners
The Telegraph’s report said that according to Home Office sources, leaflets from BiD had been distributed to individuals in immigration removal centres under the previous Conservative government.
BiD also published a 12-page document in August advising people who are sent back to France to “act quickly”, to “get a lawyer” and to “consider any High Court action” to challenge their removal.
It also provides three cut-and-paste letters that list reasons people could be bailed and avoid deportation.
BiD’s past funding has come from backers including Comic Relief, which gave a total of £420,000 in grants between May 2016 and August 2023. Comic Relief confirmed it has not funded BiD since.
Foundations including Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the National Lottery Foundation and the Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Foundation have all made large donations, according to the 360Giving website.
Other charities that have donated include the A B Charitable Trust giving £410,000 and Unbound Philanthropy giving £370,000.
