MPs using immigration enforcement hotline to report people

The website Politics.co.uk  has revealed Members of parliament have been using a Home Office hotline and webpage to report people for immigration enforcement.They say 

In response to a Freedom of Information request, the Home Office confirmed that it received 482 tip-offs from MPs between 2014 and 2016.

The news raises the possibility that MPs are reporting their own constituents to the authorities when they have come to them for help.

The Green party hit out at the practice calling it a "fundamental betrayal of trust" and called for the MPs involved to come clean about how they came about the information they reported.

"This appears to be a fundamental betrayal of trust and duty of care if elected representatives have been tipping off the Home Office about people they suspect to be undocumented migrants," party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said.
"Members of parliament should support, defend and advocate for all those living in their local communities, not have them dragged away to indefinite detention and potential deportation.
"Serious questions must now be asked about how the Home Office's 'Big Brother' system is being used by MPs.
"Those involved must come clean about how they came by the information upon which they have acted. Has personal information been abused? Have they acted upon information given in good faith by alleged undocumented migrants themselves?  Have they abused the privilege of their office?"

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants called today's news "extremely concerning".

“All constituents have a right to petition their MPs and should have confidence that they will not betray their interests," the legal and policy director Chai Patel said."It is extremely concerning that members of parliament appear to be sharing information with the Home Office in these circumstances. With massive cuts to legal aid many migrants have nowhere else to turn to find someone who can advise them and represent their interests."We need to get to the bottom of what information MPs are giving the Home Office and in what context.”Fizza Qureshi, director of the Migrants' Rights Network, said:"If parliamentarians are reporting their constituents, it demonstrates how deep the 'hostile environment' is seeping into our society."You would hope that MPs would advocate on behalf of their constituents rather than report them to the Home Office."

A Home Office spokesperson said:

"Like any member of the public, MPs can use the form on GOV.UK to report an immigration crime. They would only be identified as an MP if they declared themselves on the form, which allows someone remain anonymous."

I wonder to what an extent an immigrant would understand  that someone who they seek advise from would realise that if they were not anonymous they could find themselves arrested after the MP reported them to the authorities.

Even if you think an MP has a duty to report a crime it does not bode well for the future  for those EU Citizens who have been living in the UK and paying Taxes legally for years even marrying a UK citizen..

However Brexit means they could  now be declared illegal, and it seems in some cases if they were to seek advise  from their MP they could be reported.

If you live in a UK Constituency, then you are a Constituent of that MP even if you cannot vote for him or her , because you are not a British or Irish citizen and here legally or not.

MPs should remember they represent all in the UK irrespective of country of origin.