26 June 2023 , 23:01
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Children will today protest against the Government’s flagship migration crackdown which campaigners fear could mean dozens of kids being detained each day.
Grassroots activist group Citizens UK will lead a rally on Parliament Square to highlight opposition to the Illegal Migration Bill, which returns to the Lords on Wednesday.
Under the legislation, youngsters arriving in the UK aboard small inflatables crossing the Channel could be locked up and deported.
It comes nine years after the Tories banned the practice of holding migrant kids in detention while asylum claims were processed.
Citizens UK’s deputy director Jonathan Cox said: “After years of campaigning by Citizens UK, we ended the practice of locking up children for immigration purposes in 2011, and that was written into law in 2014 with cross-party support.
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Jonathan Cox, deputy director of Citizens UK“Unless we amend this Bill we will be taking a massive step backwards as a country.
“Locking children up in detention centres is simply inhumane - it can leave long-lasting psychological damage and cause immeasurable emotional distress.
“It’s unfathomable that this practice is at risk of being reintroduced. We must protect children and ensure they have their right to childhood.”
Citizens UK claims up to “two classrooms of children could be detained each day” under the Bill.
Highlighting the potential plight of youngsters making the perilous voyage across the Strait of Dover in cramped inflatables only to be detained in Britain, school pupils will sit on Parliament Square and write messages of support on giant teddies for refugee children who could be held under the Bill.
Experts believe tens of thousands of migrants will reach British shores in 2023 after crossing the Channel in small inflatables (AFP via Getty Images)A Citizens member who was trafficked to the UK in 2015 and detained aged 18 described the practice as “mental torture”.
She added: “Children should never be in these spaces and should never be deprived from their freedom.
“The impact this has on a child’s life and development is immeasurable.
“Children should be free to grow in a safe environment where they can play and learn."
Ijeoma, a Citizens UK leader, who was three years old when she came to the UK and was detained as a child, said: “No child should ever go through detention - imagine putting your child in prison for a week, how would that feel?
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“No child should have their lives damaged by the physical and mental effects of being in such an environment.
“We must fight to end this despicable practice and provide kids a future free of trauma.”
Opposition to plans to detain children is growing.
The Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee today published a 98-page report demanding the Home Office rule out any proposals to detain or remove children to Rwanda.
The Government has struck a deal with Kigali to send Channel migrants to the east African country.
MPs say they “strongly believe the Government should abandon any intention of detaining asylum-seeking children” under the new Bill.
Committee chairwoman Caroline Nokes said: “One of our biggest concerns is the treatment of children within the asylum system.
Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee chairwoman Caroline Nokes (pixel8000)“Any intention to detain child asylum seekers under the Illegal Migration Bill and forcibly remove them to Rwanda must be abandoned.
“The risk of harm to children outweighs any perceived damage to the effectiveness of the Government’s policy agenda.”
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