Church Action on Poverty (CAP) has accused the Government of using destitution as part of a strategy to force refused asylum seekers out the country.
"The Government is using a deliberate policy of destitution to try to force people refused asylum to leave the country," it said.
"Many cannot return to their country of origin through no fault of their own are left without food, shelter, money or the right to help themselves through paid employment."
Now CAP is seeking to amend clause 17 of the UK Borders Bill that is progressing through Parliament. The amendment ensures that people refused asylum have access to support while they are in the UK and will therefore no longer be destitute.
Christians are being urged to lobby their MPs through CAP's Voice Your Views website (http://voiceyourviews.net/eactivist/vyv.v?v=2121:141:12647: ), as the Bill approaches the report stage. CAP is also urging Christians to write personally to their MPs and try to meet with them in their local constituencies.
As part of a wider concerted effort to amend the UK Borders Bill, CAP has teamed up with other organisations, including Amnesty International and Asylum Aid, for the Still Human Still Here Campaign.
The organisations have pooled together resources and skills to campaign more effectively under a common banner. By coming together CAP said the coalition could "demonstrate more easily the strength and diversity of those appalled at the enforced destitution of people refused asylum".
The campaign is supported by Church Action on Poverty, Amnesty International UK, Asylum Aid, the Asylum Rights Campaign, the Asylum Support Appeals Project, Citizens Advice, the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, the Migrants Resource Centre, Refugee Action, the Refugee Council, the Scottish Refugee Council, Student Action for Refugees, and the Welsh Refugee Council.
