Hundreds of asylum seekers in the UK’s Brook House detention centre are trapped in a policy designed to remove those who arrive via small boats while allowing a small number to be granted legal entry. As some detainees prepare for deportation to France, many, like Fessahaye from Eritrea, find themselves locked in limbo, fearing for their future.
What Happened
Fessahaye, an Eritrean asylum seeker, is among many detainees at Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick, who are awaiting deportation to France under the UK government’s “one in, one out” policy. The scheme aims to swap recently arrived asylum seekers who entered the UK illegally via small boats with those who have been approved for legal asylum in the UK from northern France.
However, for those detained, the policy has led to confusion, frustration, and fear, as many face the threat of being forcibly sent back to France, a country they fled after enduring trauma and abuse. Detainees, including Fessahaye and his fellow asylum seekers, describe being locked in their cells, searching desperately for legal help, and protesting against what they deem a deeply unfair system. Despite the growing tension, authorities continue with the deportations as part of their controversial approach to tackling the increasing number of small boat arrivals.
Who Was Fessahaye?
Fessahaye is an asylum seeker from Eritrea, a country notorious for its indefinite military conscription and human rights abuses. Having faced severe challenges, including torture and enslavement in Libya, Fessahaye eventually made his way to the UK, hoping to find refuge. Instead, he now finds himself locked up in a detention centre, uncertain of his future and distressed by the prospect of being sent back to France, where he says he experienced brutality at the hands of police.
Career/Legacy or Background
The “one in, one out” policy, implemented to address the rising numbers of small boat crossings from northern France to the UK, has sparked widespread controversy. While designed to limit asylum seekers entering the UK, critics argue that the scheme is unfair, inhumane, and fails to address the root causes of dangerous crossings.
Fessahaye and other detainees like him are not alone in their plight. Asylum seekers in detention, many of whom have survived trafficking, sexual violence, and PTSD, are disproportionately affected by this policy. They are often subjected to poor conditions, lacking access to basic rights such as legal counsel, and are at risk of being deported to countries where they fear for their safety.
Public/Social Media Reactions
The “one in, one out” policy has drawn outrage from both human rights organizations and activists, who claim that the approach reduces human lives to a “numbers game” and exacerbates the vulnerability of those seeking asylum. NGO workers like Olivia Clark from Refugee Legal Support and Emma Ginn of Medical Justice have spoken out, emphasizing the traumatic effects this policy has on vulnerable individuals.
Critics, including the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and L’Auberge des Migrants, have condemned the scheme as “cynical” and called for an end to the deportations, urging the airline, Air France, to cease participating in the forced returns. The public outcry continues to grow as more details emerge from those directly affected.
Official Statements or What Happens Next
The UK Home Office remains firm in its stance, promoting the scheme as a means to control the rising numbers of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel. However, the approach has faced mounting opposition from human rights groups, lawyers, and the general public, with many questioning the ethical implications of forcibly returning asylum seekers to a country where they may face further persecution.
Reports from the detention centres indicate a growing sense of fear and desperation among detainees, who are left with limited information on their deportation status. While some detainees have successfully fought their deportation orders, many are still awaiting their fate.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
