Eighty asylum seekers held at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre near Heathrow have released a 26-page report alleging arbitrary detention, denial of legal aid and severe psychological harm while awaiting deportation to France under the government’s ‘one-in, one-out’ pilot.
The detainees—mostly young men from Sudan, Afghanistan and Iran—claim some have self-harmed after weeks in isolation and that access to medical care is inconsistent. They are calling on UN special rapporteurs to conduct an independent investigation into conditions at the privately run facility.
The allegations land at an awkward moment for ministers: the first deportation flight of 2026 is scheduled later this week, and new phone-seizure powers for Channel arrivals came into force the same day. The Home Office rejects the accusations, stating that detainee welfare is “of utmost importance” and that the returns policy disrupts the business model of smugglers.
![Harmondsworth detainees allege ‘degrading treatment’, urge UN probe into UK’s ‘one-in, one-out’ returns scheme]()
At a practical level, businesses and individuals trying to navigate the fast-changing UK immigration environment can turn to VisaHQ for up-to-date guidance and application support. From arranging work permits for expatriate staff to securing visitor visas for short-term travel, the platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) streamlines submissions, tracks status changes and flags policy updates—helping mobility teams stay compliant even as regulations tighten.
For employers, the controversy underscores reputational risks when relocating staff involved in detention-centre contracting or security work. Corporate social-responsibility teams should verify that suppliers comply with international human-rights standards, particularly if staff are seconded to government detention projects.
Global Mobility managers should also monitor potential industrial action; past whistle-blowing at removal centres has led to walkouts that delayed scheduled charter flights. Any escalation could disrupt the logistical chain for deportations and strain diplomatic relations with France, which receives returnees.
The detainees—mostly young men from Sudan, Afghanistan and Iran—claim some have self-harmed after weeks in isolation and that access to medical care is inconsistent. They are calling on UN special rapporteurs to conduct an independent investigation into conditions at the privately run facility.
The allegations land at an awkward moment for ministers: the first deportation flight of 2026 is scheduled later this week, and new phone-seizure powers for Channel arrivals came into force the same day. The Home Office rejects the accusations, stating that detainee welfare is “of utmost importance” and that the returns policy disrupts the business model of smugglers.
At a practical level, businesses and individuals trying to navigate the fast-changing UK immigration environment can turn to VisaHQ for up-to-date guidance and application support. From arranging work permits for expatriate staff to securing visitor visas for short-term travel, the platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) streamlines submissions, tracks status changes and flags policy updates—helping mobility teams stay compliant even as regulations tighten.
For employers, the controversy underscores reputational risks when relocating staff involved in detention-centre contracting or security work. Corporate social-responsibility teams should verify that suppliers comply with international human-rights standards, particularly if staff are seconded to government detention projects.
Global Mobility managers should also monitor potential industrial action; past whistle-blowing at removal centres has led to walkouts that delayed scheduled charter flights. Any escalation could disrupt the logistical chain for deportations and strain diplomatic relations with France, which receives returnees.
