This
paper has been produced for the Social Responsibility
Committee by a Christian who works at Yarls Wood
Immigration Removal Centre – no personal
details have been included because of issues of
confidentiality
Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre
This centre houses up to 400 residents in 4 units
at any one time. Children (with a relative) are
held in one unit. Another unit is a Segregation
Suite for the suicidal, mentally ill etc.
•
Yarls Wood has an annual through put of 5500 people
per year (figs for 2005)
•
Countries of origin (based on a random count in
Sep 07) are Black Africa & Caribbean 70%. Far
East 11%, South Asia 11 %. 6% Mid-East (mostly
Turkish). A very few Eastern Europeans: white faces
are rare.
•
Religious background of residents: about 70% Christian
(many of these particularly the Africans are VERY
committed), 15% Muslim, 15% the rest.
IMMIGRATION PROCESS
Most of the residents are there as denied asylum
seekers, or have overstayed their student or other
visas, or are denied application for permanent
leave to remain. We don't seem to meet `back of
the lorry' types. Some are arrested at the airport
on arrival (their only knowledge of UK); most have
been in UK many years, often working in much-needed
jobs like care homes, hospitals, etc. Most residents
have committed no criminal offences, but many now
are being prosecuted for dodgy paperwork and imprisoned
for 3-6 months before coming to Yarls Wood (imagine
escaping with nothing out of say Zimbabwe via South
Africa – many of these people never had real
papers anyway!)
They then make submissions to the Immigration officials
asking for leave to remain, or for bail in UK to
await the results. There are tribunals on site
at Yarls Wood to hear these cases. Some immigrants
opt for a Government scheme to go back voluntarily
with a payment to help them set up back `home'.
Legal aid exists but good immigration lawyers are
few and many lawyers demand large sums of money
up front. Language barriers are often a problem
for the immigrants
The Centre is run by private contractors, who changed
earlier this year. (I have a wider ethical concern
about custody or punishment being run for private
profit, it should be the prerogative of the State
only). A separate private contractor escorts ladies
off to planes and abroad; there have been complaints
about their conduct in the press lately, these
are difficult to substantiate (residents don't
want to go, so a complaint can delay matters!).
THE WORK OF CHAPLAINCY
There is an Inter-faith `cultural affairs' team
mainly of paid sessional clerics etc for different
faiths and denominations, and we get along well
with each other. Staff as well as residents find
us helpful for personal issues as well as around
the Centre. We see some residents privately to
discuss their concerns and to pray together, but
our volunteer team primarily serve by doing weekly
Friday services on the units, plus some Sunday
services.
Our mission, as we see it, is to try to
•
encourage Christian residents in the Lord, to know
that that the Lord will be with them wherever they
go, whatever they might face,
•
reach out in love to any other faiths or none who
come into contact, and to encourage the Christian
resident to do the same
•
show them all God has a special plan for each of
them, which could include taking the Good News
to some difficult corners of the world
•
remind them that they are only there for a `season'
- to use this time for spiritual uplifting, to
encourage and support one other through it.
IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP & PRAYER
Many are `black Pentecostal' in church preferences,
and are used to `African' style worship. They often
choose well- known songs and hymns, as there is
a feeling of security in known songs. Worship encourages
them – and us – we often see previously
depressed people leaving Chapel singing things
like `Trust and Obey'!
Groups of residents often fast and pray all night,
and leave notes on the chapel altar. Many pray
in chapel alone for hours (such is their anxiety).
There is a great need for prayers and encouragement.
Issues include –
•
Language and cultural problems on top of the shock
of arrest and incarceration. Staff do their best,
but ...
•
Waiting days, weeks, months, with no date or time
- then the 4 am knock on the door and bundling
off to the airport. Or – occasionally – instant
release into UK amid much cheering around the unit!
(but what about the feelings in those left behind)
•
Anxiety about family & property at their UK
home (often lived here years)
•
No opportunity to retrieve clothes and goods if
`removed'
•
Often no-one and nowhere to go in their country
of origin
•
Many with a pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, other serious
ailment – fear no medication or treatment
if sent back
•Fear of the future, possibly very real, such as
Christians from Pakistan or Iran, Zimbabweans.
Some have personal/family reasons to fear going
home – revenge threats, family friction,
abusive partners.
•
We say `God has a plan for your life and will never
leave you'; but it's a difficult battle for some
when the prospects are horrendous. `Not my will
but thine be done, Lord' is easier said than really
meant.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. How does this picture of immigrants square with
popular perceptions?
2. Are you comfortable with this process of immigrant
removal?
3. How do you differentiate between different categories
of immigrant eg economic migrant, refugee, asylum
seeker and who should go and who should be allowed
to stay?
4. What would you say to comfort someone who was
being removed from this country?
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