Detention Forum

“A callous lack of care”: Critics slam UK government’s refusal to reform migrant worker visa scheme - FreedomUnited.org Critics say the UK’s refusal to reform the Seasonal Worker visa scheme leaves migrant workers vulnerable to forced labor and trafficking.

Last year, the Migration Advisory Committee published a detailed review of the UK’s Seasonal Worker visa scheme, recommending reforms to curb exploitation of migrant workers. But the government has refused key changes, leaving workers vulnerable to trafficking.

During the Covid pandemic Prof Chris Whitty warned restrictions + NHS charges for migrants would spur an outbreak’s transmission. This was ignored; immigration policy was favoured over public safety. Now the Migrants’ Rights Consortium has shown this undermined trust + deterred people seeking care.

Failures in care of epileptic man who died in immigration detention, inquest hears Théophile Kaliviotis died in custody at Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick Airport

It’s deeply alarming that detention centres are failing to follow their own safeguarding guidance - just weeks after excessive force against vulnerable migrants was exposed at Brook House.

Immigration detention actively inflicts harm. It must end.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

A British Ice would be a disaster Reform’s anti-migrant policies are sounding more and more American

The UK's anti-migrant politics is sounding more & more American

Me, for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social on why Reform's plans for a British ICE are a disaster www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

‘How can I start again at 68?’ Maria has spent 50 years in the UK – and is fighting deportation She left the Netherlands for Britain in the 1970s at just 17. Now, after receiving a short suspended sentence, she faces removal to a country she hasn’t lived in for five decades or visited since 1999

Cruel and stupid from the Home Office (what's new?) Maria is clearly what Carens calls a "social member" of UK society. She should be granted citizenship, not kicked out of the country. People abandon their moral judgement when presented with abstractions like "foreign criminal". This is the reality

The latest immigration statistics are OUT

Immigration is once again DOWN

… but I don’t know who exactly is going to be happy about it🤷‍♀️

Rights groups urge airlines to halt ‘one in, one out’ deportation flights British and French activists write to Air France, AlbaStar, Titan and Corendon airlines over ‘shameful involvement’

We've written to the four airlines carrying out deportations under the cruel and inhumane UK-France agreement.

They are: Air France, Titan Airways, AlbaStar Airlines & Corenden Airlines.

We call on them to end their complicity, now.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

UK migrant families face giving up vital in-work benefits to avoid being ‘punished’ Under Shabana Mahmood’s proposals, wait for settled status would double to 20 years if public funds used while in work

What this means is that the UK government is going to entrench child poverty, deep poverty, and homelessness for many people across the country.

@ramfel.bsky.social

🚨The government is rushing through new rules making it harder for people to belong in our communities.

It takes just 2 minutes to share your concerns about "earned settlement" with you MP, using this template from @praxisprojects.bsky.social 🔽

act.praxis.org.uk/email-mp-con...

On 11th March, we’re turning up to Parliament in the Mass Lobby for Migrant Rights.

Along with migrant and refugee groups, unions, and faith groups we’re going to call on as many MPs as possible to oppose the Government’s earned settlement plans.

Learn more: www.praxis.org.uk/mass-lobby-a...

UK suspension of refugee family reunion scheme to be challenged in high court Judge allows Safe Passage International to launch judicial review of halting of right to bring in children and partners

📢"The impact of families being separated in the chaos of fleeing cannot be underestimated. The government is abandoning the UK’s duties to protect refugee children."

@safepassageintl.bsky.social is challenging the suspension of refugee family reunion in court.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

How rightwing rhetoric has risen sharply in the UK parliament – an exclusive visual analysis In the past five years, MPs’ attitudes in the House of Commons towards immigration have swung harder to the right than at almost any other time in the last century

The political debate about migration is the most hostile it has been in almost a century, with the biggest swing in just the last few years.

Language has consequences, it trickles into in our policies and into violence on our streets.
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...

The conversation about housing is all wrong.

For decades, governments haven’t built enough social homes. People are struggling. Yet refugees get blamed.

Our new video flips the narrative and focuses on the real issue.

Watch it. Share it. Let’s change the conversation.

People are "stuck in hotels for months, even years, unable to legally work or rebuild their lives."
While the backlog of initial asylum applications has been reduced, poor-quality decisions mean ppl still wait in hotels as they navigate the appeals process. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Latest migration stats are out!
It's the same, sad story:

❤️‍🩹Health & care visas down 91% in 2 years

👨‍💼🧑‍🏭Non-health related skilled worker visas down by a third in a year

🆘Asylum seeker numbers still at a historic high

Govt will try to paint this as success. Is it?

Failures in care of epileptic man who died in immigration detention, inquest hears Théophile Kaliviotis died in custody at Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick Airport

There is nothing to stop the exact same thing happening at Larne House immigration detention centre in N. Ireland. Through FOI, we've uncovered the routine detention of vulnerable groups including pregnant women and people with disabilities. Keep people safe, shut down Larne House.

Home Office to begin removing post-Brexit residence rights from EU citizens whom it believes haven't actually been living in the UK, from March 2026 committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

This is a serious and worrying failure by media - Reform need to be pressed on the core legal and moral issues at stake here

Good morning to everyone who has stood against hate, racism and fascism over the weekend!

Solidarity is a verb. Let’s do more to build the migration justice movement, and society that protects us all.

Poster by @wfmigrantaction.bsky.social

#migrationislife
#nooneisillegal
#thesewallsmustfall

Reform to announce plans for ICE-style UK border agency: live Zia Yusuf, the party’s new home affairs spokesperson, will unveil plan for ‘Trump inspired’ agency in speech

Reform UK have just shared their Trumpian vision for this country. Let’s be clear, the language used is dangerous and extreme. Nigel Farage's plans would tank our economy, damage our democracy and make the UK a less safe place for all of us.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Also, you don’t have to look too hard to link “UK’s most prominent Jewish politician is facilitating large-scale illegal entry” back to some of the most grotesque antisemitic tropes about Great Replacement or Undermining Our Nationhood

"Nobody over the last quarter of a century has done more to defeat the genuine, intolerant, abhorrent, extreme, far-right than me," says Nigel Farage, as he announces plans for the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of people and a visa ban on anyone coming from six Muslim-majority countries

Anti-migrant politicians love to claim they want "integration" - then do things like this.

Helping newcomers learn English benefits us all. It helps people find work, make friends, become part of communities. You'd only stop it if you don't want that.

There's only one reason to cut ESOL - racism.

Massive reduction in the backlog but questions over quality of decision making in latest trafficking statistics - Free Movement As the latest trafficking statistics for the year ending 2025 have been published, we dissect referrals, delays, reconsiderations and disqualifications.

From yesterday: Massive reduction in the backlog but questions over quality of decision making in latest trafficking statistics | Jasmine Quiller-Doust

The UK is getting it wrong on immigration – that must change A new report highlights that there is another way possible on immigration that will benefit everyone

Excellent write-up here from @suewilson91.bsky.social for @yorkshirebylines.co.uk on the practical & morally urgent changes we need to make to immigration policy

Imagine a govt willing to do what's best to protect migrants' rights AND benefit host communities
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/the...

Big Issue's 100 Changemakers of 2026: Refugees and migrants These campaigners, charities and community groups are among the Changemakers making a difference for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.

Some amazing people in here including our very own, and very excellent, Dr Allan Njanji.
Amid all the dangerous policy and hateful rhetoric we're facing, it's worth taking a moment to celebrate the brilliant folk standing up for the right to seek safety.
www.bigissue.com/news/activis...

Inside Horden, the County Durham town failed by politics In Horden, County Durham, Westminster slogans have long been left unmet as the population has plummeted.

"I the past three years, a group of Nigerian families has moved into the area. Most are employed as engineers or health and social care workers."

So Govt's main policy offer to this area is to try to kick these people out. Both futile and wrong.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to fill in the Government’s “earned settlement” consultation, we know it wasn’t easy!

✍️ Even though the consultation has closed, your voice still matters. Writing to your MP and sharing how you feel about the changes can make a real difference.

We’re looking for two new volunteers to join our team!

💃 Dance and Movement volunteer
🗓️ Tuesdays, 3-4pm
📍 In-person, Old Street, London

The role: welcoming women to class, setting up refreshments, teaching a range of dance styles to all abilities for fun.

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