According to the Home Office, immigration enforcement teams carried out 2,715 illegal working visits and raids in London during 2025, resulting in 2,172 arrests. The previous year there were 2,008 raids.
Greens councillor Hau-Yu Tam, who had proposed the motion, said in January 2026 there had been immigration raids at a nail bar in Catford and a car wash in Brockley which was attended by the then immigration minister Mike Tapp and a Sky News film crew.
Cllr Tam, cabinet member for communities, sanctuary and healing, said: "Despite the resources, despite the spectacle, only two people were arrested and both [were] later released on bail. A few months later, a nail bar was raided again, and again a few days after.
"According to local accounts, Chinese women workers were filmed, handcuffed and intimidated by a large officer team. They were not arrested, but they were intimidated," she said.
"That is political theatre. That is a theatre of cruelty," she added.
"And if the purpose of race is simply enforcement ... there's no evidence these operations are making our community safer.
"Our immigration system is broken," she said.
At the meeting, the Labour opposition on Lewisham Council attempted to introduce an amendment relating to modern slavery, but it was voted down.
Labour councillor Andre Bourne said: "We are in support of this motion; however, we are making amendments to strengthen it – we are here to support your motion."
Lewisham became a 'Borough of Sanctuary', in recognition of the borough's work in supporting those fleeing violence and persecution, in 2021 under the previous Labour administration.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "Since coming into power, [Labour] have increased immigration enforcement action to the highest level in British history.
"This has delivered an 83% rise in illegal working arrests and 77% rise in raids between 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2025."
Mayor of Lewisham Liam Shrivastava said: "I'm incredibly proud that Lewisham Council has made this historic decision to defend our migrant workers against the hostile environment.
"Immigration raids do not build safety in our communities, they spread fear and make it even harder for victims of modern slavery and trafficking to come forward and seek protection."
Lewisham said it will now work with Lambeth and other Green-led councils to build a 'sanctuary corridor' across parts of London, which aims to work with migrant organisations, anti-raids networks, law centres, faith and community groups.
