In a series of overnight protests, asylum seekers being held at two immigration detention centres in the UK have resisted attempts to deport them to France. Footage obtained by The Update Desk shows police in riot gear confronting the asylum seekers, who say they are being peacefully resisting transfer to the airport, believed to be Stansted.
The asylum seekers, currently detained at Harmondsworth near Heathrow and Brook House near Gatwick, have expressed concerns that while France is generally a safe country, it is not safe for some of them who have received threats from people smugglers in northern France.
“We are not criminals, we are just people seeking safety,” said one detainee, who wished to remain anonymous. “We understand the UK has an agreement with France, but for some of us, that is not a safe option. We are pleading to be heard and treated humanely.”
The protests are in response to the UK’s ‘one in, one out’ scheme with France, which requires the UK to deport one asylum seeker to France for every one France accepts. This controversial policy has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue that it fails to properly consider the individual circumstances of each asylum seeker.
“These people have already faced unimaginable hardship and danger in their home countries,” said Sarah Thompson, a spokesperson for refugee advocacy group Sanctuary UK. “They deserve to have their cases assessed fairly, with their safety and wellbeing as the top priority. Summarily deporting them to France, regardless of their personal situation, is a callous and inhumane policy.”
The Home Office has defended the scheme, stating that France is a safe country that adheres to international laws on asylum. However, the asylum seekers detained at Harmondsworth and Brook House maintain that for some, this is not the case.
As the protests continue, the situation remains tense, with both sides adamant in their positions. The Update Desk will continue to follow this story and provide updates as the situation unfolds.
