U.K. Detainees’ Stories

Article highlights the stories of six different immigrations and their struggles with the U.K. detention programs. Dilip discusses how, during his time in the center, he just wanted to be refused so he could go back home — since staying in the detention center was “wasting his life” and making him both “mentally and physically upset.” Selina describes her time in the center as being suffocated, and Hafez says that there is no difference between prison and detention. Louisa describes how depressed she was, yet how everyone around her seemed to be more depressed than she was. Amadou describes the tragedies of being retained, but says the worst part is now knowing where you are. The last story is Helen, who says the pain was so intense she contemplated suicide.