Recently some
constituents have written to me about the risks facing those held in
immigration removal centres (IRCs) in view of the ongoing situation with
COVID-19.
I am grateful to them
for getting in touch and I would like to first assure them that having worked
with Detention Action - the organiser of this particular campaign - I am
regularly being updated by them about the current issues facing people who are
subject to immigration control in custody.
As a responsible Member
of Parliament I can never be in favour of allow all who are in IRCs to be
removed at once - that would make a mockery of our legal and criminal justice
systems. It is clear to me and many that the people of this country want
to see effective controls on our immigration system.
At the same time people
want to see fairness in the system. As such I have been an advocate for a
rethink on indefinite detention at IRCs - an unfair and unpopular policy
introduced by the previous Labour Government.
My preferred outcome is
that those
in IRCs should have their cases expedited by the Home Office so that they are
not contracting of COVID-19 unnecessarily. Some will have their decisions
overturned while others, subject to immigration removal, may well need to be in
more suitable accommodation arrangements so that are shielded from those who
have COVID-19, before the travel restrictions are lifted and they can be
returned to their country of origin.
With Parliament now
returning from recess I look forward to asking ministers the questions that my
constituents have set out.
