Government attacked over detaining children
470 children are being held in immigration detention, official figures have revealed. Almost a third have been held for over 28 days, which requires authorisation by an immigration minister.
The Guardian spoke to three families who had been detained at Yarl’s Wood for between 19 and 71 days. One of the children has been diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children’s Commissioner for England, described the fact that one in three of the children had been held for longer than 28 days as “extremely worrying”.
The Guardian: Ministers under fire for locking up immigrant children
The Guardian: Children held in Yarl’s Wood detention centre speak out
The Guardian: Letters: Imprisonment of immigrant children stains Britain’s reputation
Yorkshire Post: Hundreds of children in migrant centres
The East African: Children being locked up in UK over asylum appeals
European Commission prepares to offer sanctuary to more refugees
The European Commission is drafting plans to resettle more refugees within the EU. Last year EU countries accepted 6.7 per cent of the 65,596 refugees said by the UN to be resettled around the world.
European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot urged the EU to make itself “a model of humanity” and show “concrete solidarity with Third World countries hosting large numbers of refugees”.
Writing for the Guardian, Refugee Council Chief Executive Donna Covey said: “It cannot be right that the world community leaves the poorest countries to deal with refugees. The UK, as the fourth largest economy in the world, must do its fair share to look after these people.”
The Guardian: Comment: Donna Covey: The EU is right to admit more refugees
BBC News: EU plans to admit more refugees
The Times: More homes for refugees as Europe aims to end people trafficking
Daily Mail: Britain must take more war refugees
Rise in homelessness amongst asylum seekers
Charities are facing increasing demand for their services due to a rise in homelessness and desititution amongst asylum seekers.
Refugee Action say the number of visits to their offices by destitute asylum seekers has almost doubled in the last year.
The Independent: Asylum-seekers hit by huge rise in homelessness
First Minister says asylum seekers would have the right to work under Scottish independence
A Scottish Executive report on foreign policy in an independent Scotland suggests that asylum seekers would be allowed to work while waiting for a decision on their claim, to encourage integration from “day one.”
The ruling Scottish National Party plans to hold a referendum next year on whether Scotland should become independent from the rest of the UK.
The Daily Telegraph: Alex Salmond promises British citizenship if Scotland becomes separate nation
Diplomatic row over Canada’s asylum grant to white South African
The South African government has accused the Canadian government of racism after a white South African man was granted asylum on the basis that he faces persecution due to his skin colour.
The Guardian: Row as Canada gives asylum to white South African
The Daily Telegraph: Canada accused of racism over granting of refugee status to white South African
