Asylum System Branded 'Shameful'

The Independent Asylum Commission has published a report severely criticising the treatment of asylum seekers in the UK. The report can be found here and contains some interesting insights in to immigration removal system in the UK. However, it's worth noting the first point of the summary...

The Commission has found almost universal acceptance of the principle that there must be an asylum system, and that it must be applied fairly, firmly and humanely. These criteria must be fulfilled for the UK system to be ‘fit for purpose’.

... precludes the possibility that the report will do anything to challenge the root causes of the racism inherent in immigration policy.

Harmondsworth Four Acquitted!

The Harmondsworth Four, who have been on trial for the disturbances in Harmondsworth Immigration Prison, were acquitted on the 22nd of this month. The Support The Harmondsworth Four campaign held protests outside the courts every Monday of the trial.

UK No Borders Network Newsletter 3 Out

The third newsletter of the UK No Borders network is out now and should be available for download soon from here.

Latest Issue Of 'Crossing Borders' Out

The fifth issue of Crossing Borders (a newsletter to aid transnational communication between all those involved in migrant struggle) focusing on women's experiences of migration is out now in Dutch, English, German, Italian and Spanish with more translations on the way.

Click on the link above for back issues and translations or read the current issue in English here (link opens a .pdf file).

Fight Back With Women In Yarl's Wood

Feminist Fightback is calling a picket of the Serco Research Institute in London in solidarity with women in Yarl's Wood Immigration Prison. Yarl's Wood holds as many as 405 women and child migrants who are struggling against poor conditions, unjust detention and the threat of deportation to countries in which as many as 70% of the detainees have been sexually assaulted (reported by Legal Action for Women).

Picket Of The Serco Research Institute
Saturday 8 March 2008, 4:30pm
Serco Research Institute, 22 Hand Court, London, WC1V 6JF

Followed by fundraiser for Iranian organisers attempting to escape Iran. 8pm at the Ivy Inn, Holborn, London

Support The Harmondsworth 4

For the past month four men have been on trial at Southwark Crown Court for alleged offences during disturbances at Harmondsworth Immigration Prison in November 2006.

The Support the Harmondsworth 4 Campaign is holding a demo this Friday outside the offices of Sodexho in London, whose subsidiary Kalyx runs Harmondsworth. Please join in solidarity

Demo Outside Sodexo HQ
Friday 22 February 2008, 4:00 - 6:00pm
Sodexho, 25 Chapel Street, London NW1 5DH

An African Man Injured In Tinsley House

Amadov Nyang, an 34-year-old man African man (his exact origin is unknown publicly at the moment) resident in the U.K. has been reported to have caused himself severe harm after being imprisoned in Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre, near Gatwick Airport. Amadov is said to have broken three bones in his neck after repeatedly hitting his head against a wall and is currently paralysed and may not recover. Amadov was under threat of deportation but the details of his situation are not clear.

Story from the Metro.