The Home Affairs Select Committee has taken a particular interest in immigration detention in recent weeks. Politicians, officials and detention centre operators have been grilled on the policy and implementation of indefinite detention.
With the extra scrutiny on Hostile Environment policies in the wake of the Windrush scandal, detention is remaining high on the agenda. The latest immigration statistics show that 26,541 people entered detention in year ending March 2018. Each of those people were held indefinitely, with no idea how long they would be detained. Reform can’t come soon enough.
Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes is the latest person to be called to answer the committee’s questions about detention, and members of the Freed Voices group of experts-by-experience were less than impressed with her answers.
Mishka responded to Nokes’ appearance by exploring the lack of accountability at the Home Office, which he argues is the biggest driver of behaviour.
John and Michael recorded their live reactions, to see whether the explanations given to the committee matched their first-hand experience of immigration detention.
“There is nothing humane about an immigration detention centre, and the policy behind it.”
“Who’s going to hold her accountable for her words right now? That’s what’s important.”
