On Sunday 22nd June, Asylum Welcome volunteers and staff joined a peaceful rally and solidarity walk to protest government plans to reopen Campsfield House, the controversial immigration detention centre near Kidlington.

The event, held on the final day of Refugee Week, was organised by the Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed—a broad alliance of local residents, refugee support organisations, faith and community groups, of which Asylum Welcome is a founding member. A campaign petition, created by Allan, a former Campsfield detainee, has gathered 1,677 signatures to date.

The walk began at the Campsfield site on Langford Lane at 12 noon, with participants carrying placards and banners calling for an end to immigration detention. The group then walked on to central Kidlington.

Campaigners say the planned reopening of Campsfield House—closed in 2018 after years of public pressure—would be "a deeply harmful step backwards."

The walk followed confirmation that the Home Office intends to redevelop the site to detain up to 400 men. The plan reignites strong local opposition to a centre long associated with protests, public outcry, and two tragic deaths by suicide.

One marcher, a former police officer, commented:

"I was a police officer in the 60s. The idea of locking people up without trial and without time limit is abhorrent."

Campaigners note that the decision to reopen Campsfield appears to ignore the findings of two independent reviews by Sir Stephen Shaw, which called for a significant reduction in the use of detention and stronger safeguards for vulnerable people. While some reforms were introduced, many of Shaw's recommendations were only partially implemented—and are now being rolled back.

Among those attending the event was Dr Hari Reed, Joint CEO of Asylum Welcome, along with local residents, refugee support volunteers, trade unionists and concerned citizens.

The Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed is calling for investment in community-based alternatives to detention, which have been shown to be more humane and effective. They urge members of the public to learn more, sign the petition, and join the campaign.

More information: www.keepcampsfieldclosed.uk
Petition: change.org/keepcampsfieldclosed