The chair of the Parliamentary group on immigration detention has called for all detainees to be temporarily released after a rise in Covid-19 cases in removal centres.
Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on immigration detention, asked the Home Secretary to immediately release all detainees due to the ongoing pandemic.
It comes after a case of Covid-19 was confirmed at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) close to Gatwick airport on April 7, Ms Thewliss said in a letter.
This was the second case brought to the attention of the APPG following the first confirmed case at Yarl's Wood IRC on March 22.However, a High Court case brought by charity Detention Action last month