Lewisham Council approves motion to strengthen support for migrant communities and review immigration enforcement cooperation
The motion, titled “Building an anti-raids sanctuary corridor in and beyond Lewisham”, was passed at Full Council on 22 July 2026, following a debate by councillors.
The motion commits the Council to undertake a review of its systems, processes and data-sharing arrangements to assess how Council services interact with immigration enforcement activity.
The motion calls on the Council to work with community partners to help ensure migrant residents and businesses have access to information about their legal rights and available support. It calls on the Council to work with the Lewisham Migration Forum to strengthen trauma-informed, anti-racist, care and evidence-based approaches to supporting migrant communities.
It also commits the Council to working with other councils, in developing an anti-raids sanctuary corridor, working closely with migrant and law centres, anti-raids networks, faith and community groups, to improve Lewisham’s sanctuary programmes.