Fill out the form at the bottom of the page in order to sign this letter

****************************

Dear Rt Hon Priti Patel MP,

Re: Proposed new immigration removal center for women in County Durham

We, the undersigned, write this letter to express our concern at the Home Office’s plans to open a new immigration removal centre for women at Hassockfield, Durham. We are a varied group of faith-based organisations and wish to express our grave concerns on these plans as we believe they are incompatible with the values that our country should seek to uphold.

While as religious organisations we come from diverse perspectives, we speak with one voice when we say that the dignity of human life is something that is sacred. In our different ways we believe that all humans were created equally in the image of God and therefore deserving of being treated with tolerance and respect. Human life is sacred and human beings should be treated accordingly. Locking people up indefinitely is simply not compatible with these values..

The previous detention centre for women, Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, became well known for the violence and sexual abuse that was experienced by women held there, as well as a place where vulnerable individuals, many of whom had been previously trafficked, tortured and abused, were not given the physical and mental healthcare they required. The Home Office has failed to adequately address cases of people with irregular immigration status, many of whom have a multiplicity of vulnerabilities. The Joint Committee on Human Rights stated in 2019 that the UK is the only country in Europe not to impose time limits on immigration detention. This fact simply underscores the lack of good faith we believe the Home Office has regarding this matter.

Appropriate immigration controls may be necessary, but they must use means which are non-discriminatory, humane and ensure a fundamental respect for human dignity and life. We are gravely concerned that this newly proposed immigration removal centre will undermine these principles and are, therefore, calling for these plans to be seriously reconsidered. Above all, we believe the inherent dignity of the individual is not something that can be compromised.

For these reasons, we urge the Home Office to end the shameful practice of indefinite immigration detention, starting with reversing the plans to open a new immigration removal centre for women at Hassockfield, Durham.

Yours sincerely,

<<signatures>>

Please add your name to this letter by completing the form below