The Migrant Rights Consortium gives evidence to the COVID enquiry
TwMCTogether with Migrant Children, along with eight other organisations, have formed the Migrant Rights Consortium (MRC) for module 10 of the COVID-19 enquiry. The 9 core participants in the group are;
- Doctors of the World
- Independent Workers of Great Britain
- Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
- JustRight Scotland
- Kanlungan
- Medact
- Project 17
- Together with Migrant Children
- United Voices of the World
Together, we bring intersectional expertise on the experiences of migrant communities across the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic. The MRC is represented by Myriam Naoual, Solicitor (Public Interest Law Centre), together with counsel Aswini Weereratne KC, Rowena Moffatt and Lameesa Iqbal (Doughty Street Chambers).
The MRC gave evidence to the enquiry on Tuesday 24th February 2026, with Francesca Humi from Kanlungan representing the group.
During the pandemic, migrants were often excluded from welfare, housing, sick pay, and access to healthcare. They suffered increased exposure to harm, and many had no choice but to work even if they fell ill, sometimes without access to medical treatment. Fear of NHS charging, data-sharing with the Home Office, and immigration enforcement deterred people from seeking care, despite clear public health warnings. In addition, Module 4 heard how ministers continually ignored warnings from public health experts, including Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, to relax these Hostile Environment measures. Simultaneously, emergency measures such as the ‘Everyone In’ housing initiative were applied inconsistently, leaving many migrants without safe accommodation. The MRC hightlighted how NRPF policies and the Hostile Environment weakened the UK’s pandemic response.
Our Director, Nick Watts, who is working on Module 10 with the MRC said;
The impact of the pandemic on children has been widely discussed, however children who have, or have a parent with precarious immigration status faced unique vulnerabilities that left them more at risk. Poor quality housing, use of hotels for family accommodation and limited money meant children experienced further harm directly because of immigration policy. This largely forgotten group of children are amongst our most vulnerable, and the Inquiry offers an opportunity to demand change so every child experiences an equal childhood and are not left at increased risk during another national crisis.
The full press release can be viewed on the Public Interest Law Centre Website.
