Call for Papers: The Impact of the UK Immigration Act on Housing and Public Services

Date: Friday 8th June 2018

Venue: University of St Andrews

Organisers: Dr Kim McKee, University of St Andrews ([email protected]) and Dr Sharon Leahy, University of St Andrews ([email protected])

Keynote speakers: Dr Hannah Jones (University of Warwick), Dr Sharon Leahy (University of St Andrews), Eloise Nutbrown (COSLA), Prof. David Robinson (University of Sheffield)

Funded by: the Housing Studies Association

Papers are invited for a one-day symposium that explores the impact of the UK Immigration Act 2016 on housing and other public services. This legislation (building on the 2014 Act) has ushered in a wave of measures that seek to widen the net of border securitisation, place the responsibility for this securitisation onto UK citizens, and create a ‘hostile environment’ for undocumented migrants.  Harsher penalties and sanctions have been brought into place for those who may employ, rent, or provide public services (such as maternity care) to those who are undocumented. More powers have also been given to enforcement officers, with the Home Office increasingly adopting a ‘deport first, appeal later’ approach to immigration matters. Yet these measures not only affect migrants, but also British citizens who are perceived to not sound or look ‘British’, resulting in them not being offered properties to rent, jobs that are available, or indeed access to services they are entitled to.  Early research suggests this is exacerbating already existing inequalities and heightening discrimination towards migrants, and black and minority ethnic groups more generally. Researchers, students, activists, policymakers and practitioners are invited to critically engage with these matters further.  Papers are encouraged on topics including (but not limited to):

  • How the legislation is negatively impacting undocumented migrants (and inadvertently British citizens) across different public services (e.g. NHS, banking, education, private housing)
  • How the legislation is contributing to the stigmatisation and othering of migrants.
  • How this legislation is changing how the UK border is being policed and managed.
  • The possible implications of this legislation for social division, discrimination, and racial profiling.
  • The impacts of the legislation on British citizens who do not possess relevant paperwork to document their citizenship (e.g. passport, driving licence)
  • The impacts the results of this legislation are having on NGOs, service providers and carers
  • Given immigration is a reserved power of the UK government, and most social policy areas are devolved, what does this legislation mean for relationships within and between different scales of government?

Registration

Abstracts of up to 300 words should be submitted to Kim McKee ([email protected]) by 26th April 2018. We particularly encourage contributions from both early career researchers, and colleagues in policy and practice.

If you wish to attend the event as a delegate, please register by emailing: [email protected]  Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis with registration closing 14th May 2018.  This is a free event and lunch will be provided on the day.

Bursaries

A small number of travel bursaries (£75) are available to those whose abstract is accepted.  Please indicate in your email when submitting your abstract if you wish to be considered for one. Priority will be given to early career researchers.