Amendments proposed to the Domestic Abuse Bill in the House of Lords on Monday are vital to protect migrant women, according to Southall Black Sisters (SBS). 

Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, was supported by peers from across the political spectrum in proposing the amendments to the Bill.

SBS argues that the unamended Bill leaves violence against migrant women unaddressed, due to their lack of immigration status and the operation of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) rule, which provides those under immigration control no entitlement to the majority of welfare benefit. 

Pragna Patel, SBS Director, says: “We are clear that what is on offer so far from this Government, remains at best inadequate and at worst, profoundly discriminatory.  

“We now look to the House of Lords to right the wrongs that are perpetrated on migrant women and in doing so herald in a fairer and more compassionate society that protects all women irrespective of their background or status.” 

A domestic abuse survivor who accessed SBS' No Recourse Fund added: “I had no money, though he has opened accounts in my name. He tells me: 'I sponsor you, you are my maid, you are in this country because of me, I have the power to get you out of the country.' He controls me in every way, I can’t speak in front of him. He is rich and I am from a poor family.” 

These amendments could help change this. 

Peers debated Amendment 151, a clause which would facilitate the granting of indefinite leave to remain to migrant survivors, and limited leave to remain and access to services for a survivor who is eligible to make an application for indefinite leave to remain.  

Migrant women are not allowed the same protections other victims have and the alternatives, such as the Support for Migrant Women Victim Scheme, are “woefully inadequate”, claim SBS. 

SBS fought to secure other forms of protection, including the Domestic Violence Rule which allows  women who arrive in the UK on spousal visas to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK if they are victims of domestic abuse. 

Treweek said: “This Bill is a significant and welcome piece of legislation, so we must therefore ensure that  it encompasses everyone, including migrant victims of domestic abuse who are among the  most vulnerable in our society.” 

Lord Woolley of Woodford, in favour of the amendment, added: “It does not bode well for the Government to refuse to listen given that following the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, it promised to address ‘institutional ignorance and thoughtlessness towards the issues of race’.”