A CAMPAIGN against the opening of the UK's largest detention centre for people held under the Immigration Acts has been launched in Oxford.
Campsfield detention centre is being opened near Kidlington by the Immigration Service , 'probably in late November', according to the Home office. It will be a profit-making enterprise run by Group 4.
There will be places tor 200 people including children. A large proportion of detainees will be refugees or asylum seekers.
Others will be deemed to have overstayed their 'welcome' ('illegal immigrants') and on the way to being deported.
The great majority of detainees will of course be black. Kurds, Zaireans and Bosnians are currently the most numerous asylum seekers.
Campsfield is a development of national importance. It is also an incitement to racism across Europe; the UK is the only EC country to detain refugees in this way.
Applications
Many of those who will be held at Campsfield would previously have lived in the community while their applications for asylum or appeals against deportation were considered by the Home Office.
Campsfield is part of the 'Fortress Europe' being built by European governments to make it more difficult for black people to live in Europe.
The Tory government is playing a leading role in this project which reflects its racist seige mentality in the face of increasing poverty, debt and inequality between rich and poor states world-wide.
The campaign, whose slogans include Stop the Refugee Prison, Stop the Deportations, and Refugees are Not Criminals is being launched under the umbrella group Oxford against Racism and Fascism, the auspices of Oxford Trades Council and with the active involvement of Socialist Outlook supporters.
A demonstration will take place at Carfax, central Oxford at 5pm, Wednesday 24 MP is planned to follow shortly. UK's racist immigration laws. information 'phone 0865 724452.
CLOSE ALL DETENTION CENTRES November. On the day the first detainees are bussed in, Campsfield gates will be picketed and leaflets distributed in town.A meeting addressed by Jeremy Corbyn A campaign for the closure of Campsfield will need to develop other demands, in particular the repeal of the A large national demonstration should be called in the new year. For further
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 52, November 13 1993, Page 12