Immigration raids on care homes during lockdown were 'irresponsible and insensitive'

During the pandemic when care homes were struggling to get GPs and ambulances “to come to their assistance,” it has been reported the Home Office were enforcing one immigration raid, on average, every three months in the 21 months to September 2021.

Data obtained via freedom of information (FOI) laws and seen by the Independent show there was at least one raid in January 2021 when there was a national lockdown in place.

Out of the seven raids carried out in care homes during this period, six led to arrests being made and between one and five led to the arrested individual being detained.

The Care Worker Charity’s (CWC) and Care England say the immigration raids which took place in care homes during the pandemic by the Home Office caused “another unnecessary stress” to care providers, as well as placing "vulnerable individuals’ health" at risk.

Ms Gerlich, chief executive of CWC, said the Home Office carrying out immigration raids during the pandemic “acted out of proportion during a time where care homes really struggled with Covid.

“This was at a time when family visits were limited or not allowed but raids were happening.

"The raids were very out of touch and added unnecessary stress and potentially could have brought the virus into care homes which is very irresponsible and insensitive to the situation.”

Care England said it is “ironic” that these raids took place during lockdown when some members were, and still are, “desperate for GPs, ambulances and other healthcare professionals to come to their assistance but they wouldn’t step over the threshold”.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England said: “Our members strive to provide the highest quality care for those in their care and is it any wonder there is a recruitment and retention difficulty with the constant denigration of the workforce. The care workforce is our best resource and needs to be appreciated as such.

“Members are careful to go through the proper recruitment channels and we have called upon the government consistently to utilise some of the workforce solutions that we have presented.”

’The Home Office saw fit to barge into these homes and arrest carers’

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), which obtained the figures said care homes are places where elderly people were barred from seeing or hugging loved ones for months on end, and many still have stringent contact rules in place. But apparently the Home Office saw fit to “barge into these homes and arrest carers looking after vulnerable people.”

Mary Atkinson, campaigns officer for JCWI said the figures reveal a “government willing to pursue its hostile environment at all costs, instead of prioritising the public’s care and wellbeing.”

In a statement given by the Home Office, it states its immigration officers give due consideration to establishing contact with the care home providers and work with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and local authorities before undertaking raids.