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UK is the only
European country to practice indefinite detention of migrants – it’s time to
stop.
The murky world
behind the closed doors of the UK’s immigration detention centres often stays
hidden. Groups working with detainees have long been calling for widespread
reforms to the way that detention operates are needed in order to ensure that
even basic human rights standards are upheld. It is encourgaing that, despite
the currently hostile public debate on immigration, collective progress is
being made.
The fastest
growing campaign for detention reform in the UK is calling for an end to the
continued practice here of holding people awaiting removal or deportation
without a time limit on their stay in detention. The UK is the only country in
Europe - and one of the few countries in the world - not to operate a maximum
timeframe for immigration detention. Some migrants are held in detention for
months or even years before being removed from the UK, often with no idea how
long their detention will last and at substantial financial and human cost. As
documented in depth by Detention Action, many facing such prolonged
incarceration experience significant mental and physical health problems.