A GROUP aiming to support those affected by the Government's 'hostile environment' immigration policies has been set up in Blackbird Leys.

People concerned for those living on the estate who may be under threat from deportations or destitution are hoping to find ways to help others.

It comes after reports that people are afraid of going to see their GP or enrol in formal education due to fears about not having the right papers.

Last year's Windrush scandal saw people who had been living in the UK for several decades threatened with deportation because they did not have official documentation.

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One of the group's supporters, Sasha East, said: "We've come together because of concerns about how people are being treated - it's affecting our friends, neighbours, loved ones and family members.

"We want to find ways we can support people and speak out about what's happening."

Councillor for Northfield Brook, Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini, said that, with one in three people living in Oxford born outside of the UK, the city relies on immigration to function.

She said that organisations like the NHS, where she works, would struggle without immigrants.

She added: "I am ashamed to see what I am seeing in recent times.

"There's been a rise in xenophobia and hate crimes."

Nick Watts, of Oxford-based Together with Migrant Children, said his organisation is happy to help.

Since he co-founded the charity after a trip to the Calais refugee camp in 2016, they have supported 300 families who were at risk of destitution and 50 migrants at risk of deportation across the UK.

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Mr Watts now wants to do more work closer to home in Oxford and is potentially looking at setting up a 'one stop shop' for where people can come for advice and support on immigration issues, welfare concerns and housing.

At a meeting of the group last Saturday, speakers discussed the current situation.

Junie James, Director of the Afrikan and Afrikan Caribbean Kultural Heritage Initiative, said they had worked with people who have lost their homes, access to health care, benefits and jobs after being asked to produce paperwork they didn't have.