Grenfell Tower fire: Government immigration amnesty is a 'trap' to harvest survivors' data, warns Liberty

'This policy lures undocumented Grenfell survivors in at their most vulnerable'

Experts warn that other types of cladding could be just as flammable as the panels used on Grenfell Tower (EPA)

The Government’s 12-month immigration amnesty offered to Grenfell Tower survivors has been branded a “trap” by a leading human rights group.

Liberty accused the Home Office of luring in undocumented survivors at their most vulnerable to harvest their data, before exposing them to “the same cruel policies it inflicts on other undocumented migrants.”

The group accused the Government of “exploiting” the situation to gather data for future immigration control.

They added that the amnesty was a “false promise” which will leave undocumented survivors unable to access the care they need.

“This policy lures undocumented Grenfell survivors in at their most vulnerable, gets their data on file, gives them a brief reprieve, then exposes them to the same inhumane policies the Home Office inflicts on other undocumented migrants – enforced destitution, denial of basic services and the constant threat of detention and removal,” said its director, Martha Spurrier.

“The only way to ensure undocumented survivors can access the help and support they so desperately need is to grant them a permanent amnesty. It is the least this Government can do.”

Theresa May U-turned on a promise not to carry out immigration checks on Grenfell fire victims last week, leaving survivors who need help at risk of deportation if they come forward.

The Prime Minister pledged in Parliament not to use the tragedy as an excuse to check residents’ immigration status, but ministers confirmed anyone wanting help must register with Home Office officials and be subject to normal immigration rules after 12 months.

Downing Street confirmed to The Independent that what happens to survivors at that point would “depend on their circumstances”.

The amnesty was offered after Labour and groups advocating for the survivors said the precarious immigration status of some of the residents was stopping them from coming forward.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott branded the approach as “grotesque” and expressed concern that it would stop people from coming forward for support.

She said: "The partial amnesty is limited to 12 months, which does not go far enough. Some victims have literally lost everything in this horrific tragedy: all their possessions, homes and loved ones. The idea that on top of this they could be deported later is grotesque.

"To access all the support they need without fear of deportation, any survivors concerned about their status must be given indefinite leave to remain. Otherwise, they may just disappear off the grid."

It comes as police said 350 people are believed to have lived in the west London tower, but 14 were not there when the building went up in flames on 14 June.

Authorities said 255 people escaped and 80 are still estimated to have died or are missing. Officers said they do not expect the death toll to rise much further.

Detectives also revealed the tower was made up of predominantly one and two bedroom flats, which would account for the lower than expected occupancy.

Previous estimates put between 400 and 600 people living inside the tower.