Lawyers demand end to detention

Immigration lawyers have called for the immediate end to detention of child asylum-seekers, rather than wait for alternative approaches to be established.

The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) has called upon ministers to make good on the commitment they made in the Queen’s Speech, and end the detention of children with immediate effect.

The call for action was made in a response to the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) Review into Ending the Detention of Children for Immigration Purposes, which is under way.

“Our understanding from the plain words of the government’s coalition agreement is that this government is firmly decided that the detention of children must end. Why then is the UKBA continuing to detain children?”

The group stated that UKBA’s consultation terms of reference make “no express reference to any disaster that would befall the UK if the detention of children were to end now”. It also refuted arguments that ending child detention may increase child trafficking, arguing the only way to deter traffickers is to identify and prosecute them.

Immigration lawyers also used the response to call for a radical reform in the way UKBA operates. The ILPA accused the UKBA of disregarding obligations to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Immigration ministers have previously stated that no decision on child detention would be made until after a review. The Home Office was unable to confirm when the review will be completed at the time CYP Now went to press.