Home Office gives pregnant refugee Rwanda letter
Delina, a Eritrean refugee who fled to the UK, is 37 weeks pregnant. Despite this the UK Home Office is, shockingly, trying to force her onto a plane so they can deport her to Rwanda. The Home Office has previously said that it would not send pregnant women to Rwanda under its new scheme. However, we have seen paperwork that shows they knew Delina was pregnant, but still served her with a letter saying she would sent to Rwanda. This is an incredibly brutal example of the carelessness of the Rwanda plan, and the horrific human suffering that it causes. …
Naji and Ali’s story
Today I got talking to two friends called Naji (on the left) and Ali. Naji had a bike that he used to get around on, Ali walked with a crutch because he has a damaged leg. “It was when he was trying to get into a truck,” Naji explained for him. “He fell into the road, and was hit by a car.” Ali had basic medical treatment for the injury but it was clear he was still in pain. Naji helps to look after him now. They left Sudan together, and have travelled all this way in each other’s …
Supporting #StopRwanda in Calais
This #StopRwanda sign was sent to us by a refugee in Calais. Its simplicity is incredibly moving – and a reminder that the refugees who will be affected by this barbaric Rwanda plan are only seeking safety. We’re receiving pictures from places all around the world now, the sheer numbers of people showing the sheer scale of opposition to the UK Government’s callous scheme. People everywhere are united in demanding that the flights are stopped and the whole idea replaced with a plan for refugees that is sensible and humane. It was great news that our court case against …
Rwanda Case Adjourned
Breaking: Rwanda case adjourned Good news! We are pleased to report that the Divisional Court has granted our application for an adjournment of the Rwanda case until September. However the Government has refused to rule out flights in the interim, before the lawfulness of the policy is determined by the courts. We are currently working with more than 20 people who have been detained and issued with Rwanda notices since the last court case, and many of those from before remain detained, exhausted and alone, and terrified for what the future might bring. They have suffered some of the very …
Seven refugees face traumatic deportation
We urgently need to stop this brutal policy that will harm many innocent people. To find out how you can help, go to care4calais.org/stop-rwanda/ At the time of writing, 10.15am on Tuesday morning, there are seven refugees booked on today’s flight to Rwanda. At least five of them have indicators of being trafficked and/or tortured. Yesterday in the Court of Appeal we heard that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees unequivocally believes the UK Government’s Rwanda policy to be unlawful. We also heard that they do not believe Rwanda has the capacity to give people a fair hearing …
Zoran’s story
When Zoran was a young boy growing up in Iran, his mum and dad were murdered by the government for their political views. His grandfather raised him in a small, remote village where Zoran got no schooling. Bring Kurdish, Zoran was part of a persecuted minority with little chance of a job. His parents’ deaths marked the start of years of unhappiness and depression for Zoran, and being isolated and persecuted in the village only made things worse. He knew he had to escape. Aged just 16 he left home to search for a safe future with the chance …
The House of Lords has rejected Clause 11 of the anti-refugee bill
Last night the House of Lords voted against one of the most unfair and cruel parts of the government’s anti-refugee bill. They voted by 204-126 to remove Clause 11, which would allow the government to pick and choose to which refugees it gives protection. At the moment, we judge all asylum seekers in the same way, based how badly they need our help. But Clause 11 would change that. It would mean that instead of respecting the principle that all people deserve fairness, our government could subjectively decide which people it wants to help. Of course the government doesn’t …
Were taking the government to court over pushbacks
We’re taking the Government to court to stop dangerous push backs of flimsy boats in the Channel – and we need your support. We’re proud to be bringing this claim alongside the PCS Union, who represent Border Force’s own officials. They’re aghast at the thought that they will be forced to implement such a cruel and inhumane policy. Push backs are incredibly dangerous, and risk lives at sea. Following the recent horrific drownings of 27 people in the Channel, it is simply unthinkable that anything be done to risk further loss of life. But before we go ahead, we have …
Another shocking eviction at Dunkirk
Today 300 French police brutally evicted hundreds of refugees, including many families with young children, from the camp in Dunkirk. Officers armed with riot shields surrounded the camp early on Tuesday morning. Surprised and alarmed, refugees had to pack their belongings hurriedly, fearful of tents being slashed and possessions taken. Between 1000 and 1500 people were estimated to be living in the Dunkirk camp. As we reported on Sunday, living conditions have become atrocious, with overcrowding worsening the muddy ground, and the lack of shelter exposing tents to the wind. Having endured life there, refugees were now bussed off …