What Should Socialists Say About Immigration?

The right blames migrants for increasing NHS waiting lists, the housing crisis, falling employment and wages and other crises. As socialists we do not see these crises coming from immigration but from years of austerity, underinvestment, artificial scarcity, and a ruling class that governs by placing profit over social need.

As the far-right grows in popularity and confidence, immigration scaremongering has grown, pushing the debate further to the right. At its most extreme the far-right sees immigration as part of a “Great Replacement” of “indigenous white Europeans” by black and brown people from Muslim majority countries.

The Labour Party has ramped up immigration controls in order to pander to the right. Immigration raids targeting migrant workers, in particular couriers working for companies like UberEats and Deliveroo, have increased. The threat of detention and deportation as well as further restrictions on visas makes it more difficult for migrants to stand up for their rights whether it's at work or outside.

Why should socialists be for free movement and against immigration controls? How do we oppose further attacks on migrants?

Join Bristol Alliance for Workers’ Liberty to discuss these questions. These meetings are open to all. Discussion and disagreement encouraged.