Hope for Justice has reached out to MPs to flag serious concerns over the new Immigration and Asylum Bill, ahead of its Second Reading in the House of Commons.
The UK Government has promised border management and system reform. But, as it stands, several provisions in the Bill would weaken protections for victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, making it harder to hold traffickers to account.
Hope for Justice’s key ask of MPs is to press for the removal of clauses that harm survivor identification and support, and undermine efforts to tackle organised crime, specifically Clauses 36–39 and 43.
Where the Bill risks harm
- Penalising disclosure: The Bill would diminish a person’s credibility if they do not disclose exploitation within set deadlines. Delayed disclosure is a common, clinically recognised effect of trauma, coercion and fear. Rigid timelines will push victims further underground.
- Removing recovery-focused leave: Survivors would no longer be able to receive temporary immigration status to aid recovery. Leave would be limited largely to facilitating compensation claims or prosecutions. Secure status is often the foundation for safe housing, healthcare, employment and engagement with justice. In practice, this change would make recovery harder and cooperation with investigations less likely.
- Expanding disqualification from support: Making mandatory the application of Public Order and Bad Faith disqualifications, and widening exclusion to anyone with a conviction, risks cutting off support to people criminalised as a direct result of their exploitation, especially children. Evidence does not support a narrative of widespread misuse. Disqualification for ‘bad faith’ is exceptionally rare at only 0.02% of cases in 2025, according to the Home Office’s own figures.
- Overriding professional judgement: Granting the Secretary of State the power to determine whether support for an individual is ‘necessary’ to assist their recovery from any physical, psychological or social harm risks undermining the decisions of frontline professionals.
- Children’s protection needs consistency: Strengthening Independent Child Trafficking Guardians is welcome, but effectiveness depends on ensuring they have meaningful influence on decisions.
Next steps
A survivor‑centred, evidence‑led approach is essential for safer communities. Policies that support recovery help victims rebuild their lives and make it more likely that traffickers are brought to justice.
Hope for Justice is urging Parliamentarians to refine the Bill so it protects the vulnerable while strengthening the UK’s response to organised exploitation.
Click here for our full briefing to MPs ahead of the Second Reading, due on Monday 13 July 2026.
