Immigration lawyers face rising death threats after riots, NGOs forced to shut

Immigration lawyers warn of intensifying Far-right threats endangering staff, clients and justice

Threats against immigration lawyers and migrant support groups have escalated sharply in the wake of last year’s summer riots, according to the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA). The organisation has warned that intimidation now threatens not only individual safety but the rule of law itself.

The Guardian reported that at least two refugee charities supporting asylum seekers ordered to return to France under the government’s ‘one in, one out’ scheme have shut their offices after receiving what were described as credible threats. Far-right and anti-migrant protesters are said to be behind the intimidation.

A joint statement issued by civil society groups including Liberty, Care4Calais and Bail for Immigration Detainees, alongside lawyers working in the sector, described a surge in abuse directed at organisations assisting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. It linked the escalation to hostile media coverage and inflammatory posts on social media.

The statement warned: “Divisive rhetoric, which fuels mistrust, misinformation and hostility towards migrants and migrant organisations, is placing our communities, staff and volunteers at serious risk. These attacks are not just words on a page – they have consequences. Communities are living in fear, our staff and volunteers are receiving abuse, and our offices are being targeted.”

Groups supporting asylum seekers said the environment had become increasingly dangerous, with a growing perception that visibility attracts abuse or physical risk. “The migration sector, already struggling with scarce resources, is now being forced to operate quietly, fearing that visibility will bring abuse or even physical danger,” the statement added.

ILPA told the Law Society Gazette that the situation has deteriorated significantly in the year since the names of firms and advice centres were circulated on a list of targets for protest and violence. It said the reality on the ground now reflected the warnings sounded at that time.

“The Guardian’s report reflects what our members are experiencing daily – organisations silenced through intimidation, staff subjected to appalling threats, and access to justice for migrants and refugees put at risk,” ILPA said. “This is not only about individual safety but about protecting the rule of law itself. We also urge politicians and the media to use language responsibly. Terms like ‘illegal migrants’ fuel hostility and put lives in danger.”

The organisation emphasised that language used in public debate matters, urging politicians, officials and journalists to consider the potential impact of their words. It said that repeated references to “illegal migrants” risked legitimising abuse and endangering lives.

The call comes as refugee charities and legal aid providers continue to face intense scrutiny and political pressure. Organisations supporting migrants and asylum seekers argue that they are working within the law to uphold fundamental rights but say they are increasingly portrayed as obstructing government policy.

Lawyers working in immigration and asylum cases have reported harassment, both online and in person, as well as incidents of threatening behaviour outside offices. Volunteers and staff at NGOs have spoken of living in fear, receiving abusive messages, and in some cases being advised to reduce their public profile.

ILPA has urged the government and law enforcement agencies to investigate threats promptly and to provide practical protection for those targeted. “It is essential that lawyers can continue to carry out their professional duties without fear,” the group said.

While the scale of the intimidation remains difficult to quantify, the closure of offices due to safety concerns highlights the immediate impact on frontline services. Practitioners warn that the result is reduced access to legal advice for some of the most vulnerable people in the system, compounding existing difficulties caused by limited funding and case backlogs.

The message from practitioners and civil society groups is clear: without urgent action to address threats and protect those who provide legal support, access to justice for migrants and refugees will be further eroded.