You may have seen this image on tee-shirts at anti-deportation demos. But where did it come from? The following may provide an answer.

Last year (2006)the novelist Chris Cleave spotted this image, stencilled on a wall below the M32 in Bristol. It seems to capture the lunacy of immigration controls so perfectly. Read more off-site…
Continue reading Do not deport this bear →

Oops. It seems like someone in the Home Off ice forgot to pay the phone bill because Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s FAX number has apparently just became defunct. Or maybe she just doesn’t like receiving thousands of messages in support of asylum seekers or occasional photocopies of No Borders supporters’ arses.
Continue reading Home Secretary’s FAX number ‘cut off’ →

We are pleased to announce that from the start of this week, the vicious UK immigration system was being attacked from within and without!

On Monday 17th December, Campsfield detainees devastated the immigration centre holding them, after assaults by guards. Blood on the floor and screams led detainees to believe a man had been murdered by guards. This is the reality of violence and fear in the state’s immigration prisons. Read Indymedia article: Campsfield IRC another disturbance in progress

Then, from 5am today, International Migrants Day, No Borders activists locked themselves to gates and doorways at 10 locations across the UK, including London, Manchester, Portsmouth, Bristol, Glasgow and Newcastle, against dawn raids on children by the Home Office’s Borders and Immigration Agency (BIA). Dawn raids were prevented in at least 2 locations by this inspirational action.

Read Indymedia articles: ?No Borders? Activists Prevent ?Dawn Raids? on Children . Action in Manchester. Action at London HQ. Pictures from Portsmouth action.

See also Guardian coverage: ‘Protesters blockade immigration depots’

We can expect much more in 2008 until these raids, incarcerations and deportations are stopped.
Continue reading Immigration system is attacked from within and without! →

Operation ‘Castor’ – 2nd Charter Flight to DR Congo – Thursday 30th August 2007

News flash 17th August: XL offices occupied during ‘camp for climate action’ week against Congo deportations. See also: Trip from Climate Camp to detention centres nearby

Information from NCADC: It has been confirmed that some refused asylum seekers from DR Congo, have received removal directions (RDs) for Thursday 30th August 2007. The RDs stipulate Flight *PVT616 and ‘Operation Castor’. Operation Castor was the ‘Operational’ name given to the Charter Flight on the 26th February that removed 21 children and 17 adults to DR Congo. This will be more than likely a Charter flight belonging to XL Airways.

These arbitrary deportations are being carried out to support the Home Office assumption that Congo is safe to return to (whilst the decision to reassess the risk has been delayed more than once). To stop this massive deportation is will be necessary for Congolese (and anti-deportation supporters) to take to the streets to protest against this tactic. Protests are already planned for 28th August, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, London and it is hoped that this will be extended to a national mobilisation against deportation before the end of the month. In order to coordinate legal support, Congolese asylum seekers are urged to call 07971676129 and give their name, HO reference, location, phone number, and give copies of HO refusal or judge’s decision.

See also Indymedia report: A special emergency meeting is planned in London on Wednesday 22/08/2007. Read more for details about the Charter flight company, and advice in French.. Background from February: Dozens deported to DR Congo.

More to follow when we get details… this malicious deportation must not be allowed to go ahead.
Continue reading Protest against Operation Castor – more deportations to DR Congo by charter flight planned for 30th August →

August 2nd – Press Release by Close Campsfield Campaign

FOLLOWING TUESDAY NIGHT’S LARGE, DISCIPLINED YARD-PROTEST and Wednesday morning’s hunger strike, two Home Office representatives were called to Campsfield on Wednesday afternoon to hear the detainees’ grievances. The pair, including the Assistant Director of Escorting Services at the Borders and Immigration Authority (Philip Schoelenberger?) were confronted by an angry, articulate, multi-national delegation of 22 detainees in a meeting that lasted 2 and a half hours.

The stunned Home Office representatives promised to respond to the detainees’ grievances within 48 hours, on the understanding that further demonstrations would be put on hold until 3:30pm on Friday.

Read full article for list of detainees’ demands. The Home Office decision to move bail hearings to Newport in Wales is particularly vindictive (centre is in Oxfordshire). For more information, contact 01865 726804 or 01865 558145
Continue reading Home Office reps roasted by angry well-informed Campsfield detainees →

From 19th to 24th September No Borders groups will gather at Gatwick Airport for the first No Border Camp in the UK. This camp will be a chance to work together to try and stop the building of a new detention centre, and to gather ideas for how to build up the fight against the system of migration controls. Details on the No Borders website.

The next planning meeting (meeting III) for the Gatwick No Border Camp will be held in the Cowley Club, Brighton on Sunday August 5th, from 1pm. Everybody who wants to get involved in the planning of the camp is welcome – plus venue is 10min walk from the beach! If you need a place to stay in the area or want to contribute to the agenda, please contact g-anbc2007@riseup.net
Continue reading No Borders camp at Gatwick →