Spent 2day following up w/ cross channel refugees detained in #Yarlswood - picture emerging of vulnerable people denied right to legal reps & contact with outside world in drive to deport as quickly as possible. Here are some of things we’ve learned... (thread 1/9) #EndDetention
Detainees being told that detention in hotels after #yarlswood will b for 14day “quarantine” - even those w/ families & addresses told they must go to hotel (we know it’s because it is easier to raid a hotel & pick everyone up at once for a charter flight) (2/9)
One detainee had asylum screening today & only after that was given list of solicitors but told he was not allowed to call them till AFTER his 14 day quarantine period #EndDetention #RefugeesWelcome #StopCharterFlights (3/9)
Another detainee was talking to our volunteer in Arabic this eve when a woman guard screamed at him “who are you talking to? What are you talking about?” He was so scared he shut the phone down and we haven’t been able to reach him back yet. #Refugeeswelcome (4/9)
None of the detainees are being told that they are liable for removal under Dublin III - they all believe they will get a fair hearing for their asylum claim. #EndDetention #Shutdownyarlswood #StopCharterflights #refugeeswelcome (5/9)
Every person we have spoken to has been through torture in their home country and/or on the journey to UK - some subjected to horrors in Libya - all are traumatised and exhausted #EndDetention #EndDeportations #ShutDownYarlsWood #Refugeeswelcome (6/9)
None were told about rule 35, or how to seek support as victims of torture. They have no idea how the system works, one English speaking detainee was doing translation for the guards with other detainees as no interpreters #Enddeportations #enddetention (7/9)
Because of our demo on sat, the Home Office raced through a lot of screening interviews today (Sunday) to rush people’s release tomorrow - another transparent attempt to deny people legal advice and support from organisations #Enddeportations #ShutDownYarlsWood (8/9)
More will come out in coming days. Yesterday’s demo critical to breaking isolation of detention & reaching people who desperately need to understand what‘s happening to them & get legal representation. We WILL b going back. #ShutDownYarlsWood #Enddetention #RefugeesWelcome (9/9)
