Urgent Invite: 'Go Home': Mapping the unfolding controversy of Home Office Immigration Campaigns

In July 2013, the UK Home Office launched a series of high-profile interventions aimed at directing public attention to an increasing 'hard line' from the government in controlling 'illegal immigration'. The urgency of this proposal is to study the operation, impacts and implications of two elements of this: an advertising campaign which began in selected London boroughs calling on migrants with insecure legal status to 'go home'; and a series of high-profile immigration checks and raids in public spaces in super-diverse areas, particularly in London. The 'go home' advertising in public spaces has, since the instigation of this urgent bid, been subject to successful legal challenge for failing to consider its impact on 'good relations' in line with the Equality Act 2010. However, similar publicity has been used by the Home Office inside immigration centres in Glasgow and Hounslow. These developments demonstrate the fast-moving nature of this subject of study and the need for real-time research to capture data and for analysis now, and create an archive for future research.

The summer's wave of interventions is part of wider structural change to the immigration service and policies restricting non-EU citizens' entry to the UK, and their rights once present. They have drawn public attention and campaigns in an acute way which needs urgent attention, particularly with the Immigration Bill being introduced to Parliament this autumn. Debate on migration and borders will continue with the Scottish Independence Referendum in September 2014, and the general election in May 2015. We need to understand the impacts of such policies and public debate on: migrants (both 'legal' and 'illegal'); racially minoritised British citizens if subject to increased harassment; public opinion about migration; community cohesion and good community relations; and political mobilisations.

Immigration is an issue where economists have been influential on British government policy. However, there is a supposed mismatch between their views and those of the general public. Illegal immigration is not statistically very large, nor very costly; but sentiments on it are held very deeply by certain voters. This raises questions about the use of evidence and argument in public policy decision-making. Policy makers and organisations working with migrants, against racial harassment, and on promoting peaceful communities need research which analyses the effects of these policies.

The Home Office initially promoted these campaigns through both mainstream and social media (particularly their #immigrationoffenders hashtag on Twitter). Similar means have been used by those protesting against the interventions (notably through #racistvan and #gohome hashtags on Twitter). The combination of online and print media campaigns, and in-person interactions have been significant in both the original interventions and campaigns against them. For example, advice on migration rights has been circulated online then distributed in person, disruptions of immigration checks have been organised online and/or filmed for circulation through social media. These interactions are an important element of the situation we will study, by engaging both with policy makers planning such campaigns and with activists mobilising to support migrants and good relations. An inventive combination of techniques of on-line, textual and visual analysis together with interviews and participant observation will help us to capture the multiple arenas of unfolding events. This research has been designed in collaboration with civil society organisations which have been clear about their needs for robust social scientific evidence that will help them and others to effectively foster good relations. The research design is based on needs identified by these groups and will also provide insights into wider questions of how public policy decisions are made and interact with public debate and social science

Beneficiaries include:
CAMPAIGNING & ADVOCACY GROUPS SUPPORTING MIGRANTS: Knowledge that can assist clients in accessing rights & contribute to wider campaigning to advocate for migrants' rights
RESIDENTS OF ETHNICALLY DIVERSE AREAS WITH SIGNIFICANT MIGRANT POPULATIONS: Opportunities to have views & experiences documented in evidence about the impact of enforcement campaigns; evidence that can be used to challenge adverse impacts of such campaigns
EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: Evidence of impact of enforcement campaigns on minority groups that can assist in ensuring compliance with equality & human rights obligations
LEGAL ADVISERS: Evidence of how enforcement campaigns may infringe rights of those targeted, which may assist with legal challenge to such infringement
POLICY MAKERS IN IMMIGRATION: Knowledge of unforeseen consequences of enforcement campaigns, including impact on UK & EU citizens, social cohesion & community relations
RESEARCHERS: Knowledge that expands debate in migration studies & emergency research methodologies
See 'Pathways to Impact' and 'Project Partners' for specific groups already engaged.

The project will involve users & potential users at all stages of the research, including through:
- involving advocacy groups as research partners;
- an advisory group for the project bringing together practitioners & researchers;
- opportunities for those affected by Home Office campaigns to respond to interim findings & feed into further development of the project

The project will generate knowledge to enhance the work of advocacy & campaigning groups, through a more nuanced understanding of immigration policy & its impact.

The project provides opportunities for groups whose voices are rarely included in immigration debates to be recognised as social actors who also participate in such debates. This new knowledge of the impact of immigration policy on all residents in targeted areas promises conceptual impact by expanding understanding of who is affected by immigration policy & enforcement, & the wider social consequences of such tactics. This aspect of the research will enable us to identify possible government failures to meet obligations under equality & human rights legislation & to suggest methods of avoiding negative & unlawful impacts arising from these approaches to immigration enforcement. The project will produce knowledge that will assist bodies charged with ensuring compliance with equality & human rights legislation. An initial report from the pilot phase is being submitted to the EHRC.

The project seeks to unsettle & expand understandings of who 'counts' as a user of publicly-funded research. There will be opportunities for research users to comment on the formulation & dissemination of official & popular knowledge about immigration & the impact of different approaches to research & dissemination on the well-being of diverse communities.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH ESTABLISHED NETWORKS
We have active partnership arrangements with campaigning & advocacy groups including GRAMNET, Migrant Voice, Runnymede Trust, Scottish Refugee Council Rfugee Action (see 'Pathways to Impact' and 'Project Partners'). Each group convenes a network of users & supporters and has national lobbying power. They form an integral component of the research & dissemination. Specialist staff at Warwick & in partner organisations will support media work.

Interim findings will be discussed in open meetings & focus groups with representatives of advocacy groups & their clients. Feedback from these meetings will be used to refine & develop further stages of research.

LANGUAGE
An important impact of the project is to enable those targeted by Home Office campaigns (due to neighbourhood of residence, immigration status or perceived ethnicity) to comment & reflect on such campaigns. This will include voices of speakers of other languages, with translation accessed through the project's community partners.