Dawn raids won’t stop over Xmas

DAWN raids against asylum seekers in Glasgow will continue over Christmas and New Year, the Home Office has admitted.
Around 1200 families are living in fear of being thrown out of their adopted homes at any moment by immigration.
Raids have become more frequent of late and over recent weeks families have even been targeted on Sunday mornings.
Now it’s emerged there will be no respite over the festive period which means families could be taken away to spend Christmas in Dungavel or another detention centre.

Furious campaigners who have succeeded in preventing some of the forced removals today criticised the “brutal and relentless” actions. They also warned there will be no let-up in opposition to the raids.

A spokesman for the Home Office said dawn raids were not being suspended over the Christmas and New Year period.
In a statement the spokesman added:

“UK immigration operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and officials in Scotland will be on duty over Christmas and New Year to respond to situations as they occur. Operations are intelligence led and are done for maximum exposure in accordance with proper risk assessment.”

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action on Housing said the potential of Christmas raids only underlined the “intolerable cruelty” which asylum seekers live with all year round. She said: “If the Home Office is going to keep up its brutal campaign over Christmas and New Year it should know it will not get any respite from the persistence of ordinary people. Asylum seekers make good neighbours and friends, they make a valuable contribution to the community. Their neighbours welcomed them with open arms and will continue to defend them.

“There are 1200 asylum-seeking families in Glasgow living in fear of being thrown out of their beds in the middle of the night. There are eight-year-old children scared to sleep in their own beds. This kind of cruelty is intolerable.”

Revd. Dr Iain Whyte, Chair, Positive Action in Housing, said:

“At a time when Christians and others are celebrating the birth of one who was accepted in Egypt as a refugee from persecution it is particularly disgraceful that families in a similar situation are faced with the fear of being dragged fromn their homes and from a secure environment and forcibly put in danger of their lives. All who care about human rights and especially those celebrating Christmas must reject this inhuman policy and take every opportunity to challenge its implementation by a government which claims to abide by the spirit of Christmas and by the standards of civilisation”

The spokesman for the Home Office said early-morning squads were only sent in to remove failed asylum seekers “as a last resort”.

He said: “They are people with no legal right to be in this country. Their applications have been rejected and they have not taken the opportunity to leave voluntarily.”

19/12/06 - Evening Times

latest asylum figures in glasgow

Springburn area (G21)…………………..1942
Pollockshaws area (G43)…………………711
Kingsway(G14)……………………………. 544
Govan(G51 and G52)……………………….529
Shettleston (G31, G32, G33)……………..433
Anniesland/Drumchapel……………………311
Gorbals(G5)……………………………………..230
Maryhill (G20)……………………………………211
Kennilshead (G46)…………………………….205
plus 272 scattered elsewhere in Glasgow.

URGENT APPEAL ON BEHALF OF A DESTITUTE ASYLUM SEEKER - Hassan, 40, from Algeria

We urgently need to find a spare room or similar shelter as well as financial donations for a client who has been made absolutely destitute. Like other destitute asylum seekers, he has been left without the basic necessities of food and shelter. They are excluded from the right to work and have no access to any form of government support. Many people are literally left to rely on the support of churches and charities or forced to live on the street. Destitute asylum seekers do not even have a right to homeless shelter provision.

HASSAN 40 FROM ALGERIA

Hassan’s asylum application was refused in 1999 when he applied to the Home Office after fleeing political persecution in Algeria, his home country. All forms of support in terms of accommodation and finance have been withdrawn by NASS. Currently the Scottish Refugee Council have advised Hassan to lodge a fresh claim and he is taking steps to do so assisted by a solicitor. He intends to apply for section 4 soon. Unfortunately it may take a few weeks before Hassan receives a decision. He is vulnerable and homeless and desperately in need of a spare room or bed space for the next 2-3 weeks. He has been in the country for 7 years and is a very kind, quiet gentleman who speaks fluent English.

Do you have a spare room or space?

If you think you or someone you know has a spare room here in Glasgow and are willing to accommodate any of our clients for this interim period then please contact Positive Action in Housing on 0141 353 2220 or e-mail david@paih.org urgently.

Give a Donation

The Hardship Fund supports people in this position by giving small amounts of cash for food and basic essentials. We desperately need donations as this work is not funded by any other means.

You can make an online donation by clicking here. Or send a donation by cheque, made out to Positive Action in Housing and marked Hardship Fund on the back, to:

Destitution Appeal
Positive Action in Housing
98 West George Street
Glasgow G2 1PJ

Thank you for your support.

Positive Action in Housing appeals for accommodation for destitute clients in good faith. We realise that accepting someone into your home is not without risk. To minimise this risk we disclose all information we posses about the client to volunteers. We are available to help resolve any concerns. We have never had any difficulties with clients staying with volunteers in this way but ultimate cannot take responsibility for any problems that may arise.