By Cicero’s Home Affairs correspondent
Dozens detained in Britain refuse food ahead of forced returns to France
Around 30 asylum seekers held in UK immigration detention centres have begun a hunger strike in protest at plans to deport them to France under the government’s contentious “one-in, one-out” arrangement with Paris.
Sources close to the detainees say the protest started on Monday, with many of the strikers scheduled for enforced removal as early as Thursday.
The bilateral scheme, designed to discourage small-boat Channel crossings, has already seen more than 100 people forcibly returned from the UK to France. In exchange, a smaller number have been allowed to travel legally to Britain.
However, at least two of those sent back have since made the perilous journey again: an Iranian national who was removed to France twice, and an Eritrean man currently in detention awaiting transfer on Thursday.
Speaking to the press from inside the centre, one hunger striker described his despair at the arbitrary nature of the process. “I came on a boat with 83 others,” he said. “Only 12 of us ended up in detention while the rest are in hotels having their claims processed normally.
“We’re locked up alongside people with criminal records, even though we’ve done nothing wrong. I waited hours every day for answers and got none. That’s why I joined the hunger strike – someone has to listen.” one asylum seeking protestor said.
Another protester said detention had left him in limbo: “My life has completely stopped. Every day I live in fear of being sent back to danger, whether in France or my own country.”
A third added: “We’re being treated like criminals when all we want is protection. We haven’t hurt anyone. We’re ordinary people asking for our basic human rights.”
Charlotte Buckley, director of the charity Bail for Immigration Detainees which is supporting several of those refusing food, condemned the policy.
“Seeking asylum is not a crime, yet these individuals are being detained the moment they arrive and threatened with removal,” she said.
“Many have little or no access to legal advice – our latest figures show legal representation in detention at its lowest level on record.
“We stand with the hunger strikers in demanding their right to claim asylum in the UK, a right enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention.
“We are deeply concerned for their welfare and call on the Home Office to engage with their grievances.”
A Home Office spokesperson defended the returns programme, stating: “We are stepping up activity to remove those with no legal right to remain in the UK, with almost 50,000 such removals already carried out this year. Detention and removal are always conducted with dignity and respect.”