Green Group Motion

Council Notes:

1.    In November 2022, this council debated and passed a motion in response to reports that the then government was seeking to re-open Campsfield House for use as an immigration removal centre.^[1]

2.    The motion passed in 2022 condemned the proposed re-opening of the centre and called for the city to be a safe space for refugees.

3.    On 21 August 2024, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the current government’s plans to re-open Campsfield House.^[2]

4.    Cooper’s announcement has been heavily criticised by numerous migrants’ rights groups including Asylum Welcome,^[3] Detention Action,^[4] The Refugee Council,^[5] and Amnesty International UK.^[6]

5.    Summer 2024 saw violence and intimidation from far-right activists, some of which targeted - or threatened to target - organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers - including those within Oxford. 

6.    Both Oxford City Council^[7] and Oxfordshire County Council^[8] have committed themselves to the values of the City of Sanctuary programme, pledging to work for the creation of a safe and welcoming environment for those seeking sanctuary. 

Council Believes:

1.    Oxford and this council have a proud history of supporting and welcoming refugees and opposing detention. Maintaining our opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield House is an important part of this. 

2.    The recent steps to end the cruel Rwanda Plan and stop the state of permanent limbo^[9] created by the Illegal Migration Act 2023 are to be welcomed,^[10] but do not go far enough in restoring the legal right to asylum.

3.    Expanding detention and increasing deportations represents a worrying indication as to the government’s intended direction of travel, one which is incompatible with the promise this city has made to stand up for the rights of those seeking sanctuary.

4.    The UK’s asylum system needs major overhaul, including through the opening of safe and legal routes for people to claim asylum. 

5.    It has been extensively documented that immigration removal centers are sites of violence which have no place in a democratic, rights respecting, society.^[11]

6.    As such, Campsfield House should not be re-opened, and the government should be moving to shrink, not expand, the UK’s detention estate. 

7.    Rhetoric and policies that demonise and stigmatise asylum seekers have a contributory role in driving division in our society and fuel the far-right.

Council Resolves:

1.    To reiterate this council’s opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield House.

2.    To request that the Leader  of the Council write to the Home Secretary calling on her to:

3.    Abandon plans to re-open Campsfield House.

4.    Outline plans to reduce, rather than increase, the number of people held in detention.

5.    Begin to introduce a more humane migration policy - including through the establishment of safe and legal routes for people to claim asylum.

Councillor Alex Powell, seconded by Councillor Dr Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini, proposed the motion as set out in the briefing notes.

Following debate and on being put to the vote, the motion was agreed.

Council Notes:

1.    In November 2022, this council debated and passed a motion in response to reports that the then government was seeking to re-open Campsfield House for use as an immigration removal centre.^[1]

2.    The motion passed in 2022 condemned the proposed re-opening of the centre and called for the city to be a safe space for refugees.

3.    On 21 August 2024, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the current government’s plans to re-open Campsfield House.^[2]

4.    Cooper’s announcement has been heavily criticised by numerous migrants’ rights groups including Asylum Welcome,^[3] Detention Action,^[4] The Refugee Council,^[5] and Amnesty International UK.^[6]

5.    Summer 2024 saw violence and intimidation from far-right activists, some of which targeted - or threatened to target - organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers - including those within Oxford. 

6.    Both Oxford City Council^[7] and Oxfordshire County Council^[8] have committed themselves to the values of the City of Sanctuary programme, pledging to work for the creation of a safe and welcoming environment for those seeking sanctuary. 

Council Believes:

1.    Oxford and this council have a proud history of supporting and welcoming refugees and opposing detention. Maintaining our opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield House is an important part of this. 

2.    The recent steps to end the cruel Rwanda Plan and stop the state of permanent limbo^[9] created by the Illegal Migration Act 2023 are to be welcomed,^[10] but do not go far enough in restoring the legal right to asylum.

3.    Expanding detention and increasing deportations represents a worrying indication as to the government’s intended direction of travel, one which is not only incompatible with the promise this city has made to stand up for the rights of those seeking sanctuary, but also a cruel gimmick that multiple reviews by previous Tory governments have assessed to be inhumane, indiscriminate and wasteful.

4.    The UK’s asylum system needs major overhaul, including through the opening of safe and legal routes for people to claim asylum. 

5.    It has been extensively documented that immigration removal centers are sites of violence which have no place in a democratic, rights respecting, society.^[11]

6.    As such, Campsfield House should not be re-opened, and the government should be moving to shrink, not expand, the UK’s detention estate. 

7.    Rhetoric and policies that demonise and stigmatise asylum seekers have a contributory role in driving division in our society and fuel the far-right.

Council Resolves:

1.    To reiterate this council’s opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield House.

2.    To request that the Leader of the Council write to the Home Secretary calling on her to:

3.    Abandon plans to re-open Campsfield House.

4.    Outline plans to reduce, rather than increase, the number of people held in detention.

5.    Begin to introduce a more humane migration policy - including through the establishment of safe and legal routes for people to claim asylum.