The Impact of Covid-19 on Migration and Migrant Communities in the UK

The impact of Covid-19 on migration and migrant communities in the UK has been both profound and disproportionate whether in terms of restrictions or illness or loss of life. While there are many migrants who are not religious or ethnic minorities, most ethnic and religious minorities in Britain have some connection to migration whether directly or indirectly through family members and diasporic connections. As Migration Observatory reports, “Migrants may experience discrimination for different reasons, some of which also affect UK-born ethnic minorities. This can be due to characteristics such as ethnicity and race, but also factors that particularly affect the foreign born, such as having a foreign accent or foreign qualifications.”

The link with religious practice and freedom in times of Covid and restrictions on migrant communities is evident because the management of Covid through law has restricted religious practices and freedom. Migrants or refugees need not always be from religious or ethnic minority groupings, but many asylum seekers do leave their countries of origins for reasons of persecution and discrimination which can relate to their religious beliefs and practices. How religion interacts with politics and economics is important in shaping people’s access to health care and is of paramount importance in coping with emergencies such as a global pandemic.