Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre has reopened, and people are once again being detained in Oxfordshire for immigration control. At Asylum Welcome, we feel deep sorrow that immigration detention has returned to our county, and we remain firmly opposed to its use.
But we also recognise the immediate reality facing the people now being detained. No one should be left completely isolated and forgotten. That is why we are launching a three-month pilot visiting service for those now held inside Campsfield — and why we are asking for the community’s support.
“There is no such thing as a humane immigration detention centre.”
“As the first detainees arrive at Campsfield, we feel deeply sorry that people are once again being locked up in a system that causes profound harm. “There is no such thing as a humane immigration detention centre.”
— Dr Hari Reed, Joint CEO of Asylum Welcome.
Immigration detention causes serious and lasting harm. People deemed to be “subject to immigration control” can be detained without warning, without trial, and with no statutory time limit — making the UK an outlier in Europe.
The government says Campsfield will hold people only for short periods. Yet evidence from across the detention estate shows that most people are ultimately released into the community. This means the suffering they and their families endure is entirely avoidable.
Standing alongside people in detention
Asylum Welcome has a long history of supporting people in detention. Our trained volunteers visited Campsfield before its closure in 2018, and we continue this work through our Huntercombe Prison Visiting Programme.
This new pilot builds on that experience. Between January and March 2026, our staff and volunteers will offer regular visits, providing listening support, connection, and practical signposting to people who may have no one else to rely on.
“That place is designed to take your humanity away… Every day, little by little, you lose something of yourself, and it’s designed for that. And in that kind of situation, a spark of empathy makes the difference.”
— Former Campsfield detainee, supported by Asylum Welcome
Our presence is not about making detention acceptable. It is about refusing to look away while people are harmed — and standing in solidarity with those forced to endure a system that strips them of control, stability and hope.
Help us continue this work
We are now fundraising to extend the visiting service beyond the 3-month pilot. If you are able to support the Campsfield Visiting Service, please donate via our JustGiving campaign:
