Thread by @the3million

1/ on @BBCr4today Theresa May confirmed that Freedom of Movement will end on March 30th next year in case of a no deal Brexit. No transition, no implementation period. Plunging 3.6m EU citizens, despite continuing to live legally in the UK, directly into the #HostileEnvironment

3/ last week the Prime Minister promised to protect the #citizensrights of EU citizens no matter what Brexit outcome. Within the #HostileEnvironment this is becoming meaningless though.

4/ without a transition period for Freedom of Movement there will suddenly be 3.6m legal EU citizens - with their #citizensrights protected - unable prove to landlords, banks, the NHS and employers that they have the right to reside and work in the UK

5/ the Settled Status application process will not open until March 2019. It will have to process 5-7k applications per day. Only after successfully applying for the new status EU citizens will have documentation that proves their #citizensrights.

6/ until EU citizens have successfully applied for Settled Status they will appear undocumented to employers, landlords, banks & the NHS. How will they be able to tell if an EU citizen arrived on March 29th or April 1st 2019?

7/ with draconic fines for providing services to undocumented immigrants under the #HostileEnvironment those who provide hose services, employment & housing will have no other choice but to discriminate against all EU citizens.

8/ Theresa May proposing to stop Freedom of Movement without transition in case of no deal during the Settled Status application period will lead to real personal hardship for millions of legal EU citizens and it is impossible to administrate. It must not happen. /end

P. S. Technically, ID and passports will remain valid identification even after March 30th until UK changes current legislation but Freedom of Movement as Theresa May said can only end on March 30th 2019 with that change in legislation being made.