"Voluntary Removal Notices": The New Dawn Raids?
CH | 24.09.2006 21:03 | Analysis | Anti-racism | Migration
Forced removal of "failed" asylum seekers was in the headlines again last week when a couple sought sanctuary in a Glasgow church. It comes as a wave of "Voluntary Removal Notices" where people, mostly vulnerable families, are asked to report to Glasgow airport and deport themselves.
Masih and Christine Raymond had received one of those letters. It told them to go to Glasgow Airport in time for a 19:45 flight to Pakistan and reminded them that they would have to pay for any excess baggage. As Pakistani Christians in a time of increasing religious intolerance worldwide, their fear of persecution would appear to be "well-founded" but the Home Office disagreed. With nowhere else to turn, they went to St Patrick's Church in Anderston and asked for sanctuary. With support from the minister, the archbishop and media coverage, the local MP called for a 24-hour halt to their deportation (essentially meaningless, given the speed of bureaucracy, but never mind).
They are far from alone in receiving these letters, which seem to mark a tactical change on the part of the Home Office. The visible and unpopular Dawn Raids are being supplemented with these notices, first issued a couple of months ago. The link between the two isn't clear but some trends are being noticed by campaigners.
People from Turkey, Nigeria, DR Congo and Pakistan have received these letters, mostly families, often with only one adult. Those more dependent on the meagre NASS support to feed and shelter their children. They have up to 2 weeks notice of the flight and little or no information as to what happens next. Does it mean they will be dawn raided? If they go to report at Brand St as usual, will they be detained? Like the fear of dawn raids, the uncertainty can be hard to bear. Unlike dawn raids, there's not yet public outcry at the practice, allowing "mistakes" (or abuses) to go unnoticed.
In at least one case a removal notice has been wrongly issued, to someone with a still-active legal case. A family who received a notice were subjected to a dawn raid a couple of days before the flight. The letter caused someone to be locked out of their flat and lose their possessions. Yet some have missed the ordered flight only to have this ignored by Reporting Centre staff the next week. None of which points to a transparent or just regime being in place behind these letters.
The flights have mostly been from Glasgow Airport. From there to Brazzaville, Lahore, Ankara. Many flights have been booked with British Midland, Turkish Airlines and Pakistan Airlines have also appeared happy to be carrying passengers against their will. Holidaymakers might not be so happy at the airlines' attitude and might consider making their feelings known to the companies involved.
They are far from alone in receiving these letters, which seem to mark a tactical change on the part of the Home Office. The visible and unpopular Dawn Raids are being supplemented with these notices, first issued a couple of months ago. The link between the two isn't clear but some trends are being noticed by campaigners.
People from Turkey, Nigeria, DR Congo and Pakistan have received these letters, mostly families, often with only one adult. Those more dependent on the meagre NASS support to feed and shelter their children. They have up to 2 weeks notice of the flight and little or no information as to what happens next. Does it mean they will be dawn raided? If they go to report at Brand St as usual, will they be detained? Like the fear of dawn raids, the uncertainty can be hard to bear. Unlike dawn raids, there's not yet public outcry at the practice, allowing "mistakes" (or abuses) to go unnoticed.
In at least one case a removal notice has been wrongly issued, to someone with a still-active legal case. A family who received a notice were subjected to a dawn raid a couple of days before the flight. The letter caused someone to be locked out of their flat and lose their possessions. Yet some have missed the ordered flight only to have this ignored by Reporting Centre staff the next week. None of which points to a transparent or just regime being in place behind these letters.
The flights have mostly been from Glasgow Airport. From there to Brazzaville, Lahore, Ankara. Many flights have been booked with British Midland, Turkish Airlines and Pakistan Airlines have also appeared happy to be carrying passengers against their will. Holidaymakers might not be so happy at the airlines' attitude and might consider making their feelings known to the companies involved.
CH
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