We in Yarl’s Wood would like to invite the new Home Secretary Sajid Javid to visit the centre and meet the ladies here to get an accurate view of our indefinite detention in the hope that we can have a positive effect on any future policy and indeed the much needed revision of current policy and how it is implemented.

We believe the Windrush scandal has vindicated our decision to hunger strike in February and March this year as among other things we were protesting against.

• The unfair process being detained by office workers who’s vocational success is based on how many people they remove, with no time limit on detention.
• The Home Office’s blatant disregard for Articles 8, 5 and 3
• The deportation of people with ongoing cases and appeals
• The detention of vulnerable people

We are sad to announce that some ladies in Yarl’s Wood Detention centre are again taking part in a hunger strike beginning today, 2^nd of May 2018, as we are truly angered by the entire scandal, and we feel very strongly that many people who have resided in the UK since childhood but never had their stay regularised, and are in exactly the same situation but not granted the same amnesty because they are not part of the Windrush generation.

A child cannot break immigration laws, or choose where to grow up and establish a private life, so why should they be labelled as over stayers and “illegal” once they are adults?

This highlights the unjust process in place currently at the home office for all who have genuine reasons to remain, including those seeking sanctuary, seeking to be reunited or to remain with family and those fleeing torture and gender based violence.

Our demands are still the same, as we are still ignored and remain in a desperate situation with no other outlet to vent our frustration at this continued cruelty by the state.

We would greatly appreciate venting our concerns and grievances to the Home Secretary should we be granted the opportunity.

Yarl’s Wood Detainees and Hunger for Freedom strikers