Most people in this country see themselves as compassionate and fair. People are appalled to see cruelty to others, including to migrants.
Yet our immigration enforcement system treats people brutally: families are woken in the middle of the night by immigration raids, parents are taken away in front of their children. Others receive as little as 24 hours notice of removal from the UK. Immigration detainees are emotionally and physically abused and bullied, and told their lives are worthless.
Aside from its unacceptable human impact, research shows that such brutality is ineffective, costly and reduces levels of compliance with migration controls.
We need to urgently reform and de-escalate the way we approach immigration enforcement so that abuse and intimidation of migrants ceases. Enforcement should be conducted with humanity and dignity.

“I thought if I said anything they might put me on a plane and deport me straight away while I was having the miscarriage, so I kept …