Campaigning against the immigration laws was a key part of Asian Youth Movement activity. The importance of this issue can be seen by the position of the immigration issue as the primary purpose of the aborted Black Freedom March from 1980.

The Black Freedom March from Bradford to London was proposed by Bradford AYM to oppose the immigration laws; defend Southall from persecution by the police after the death of Blair Peach at the hands of the police; oppose police harrassment and the sus laws; demand the end of the bussing of black children to school and oppose the questions on 'race' in the 1981 census.