UK immigration detention detainee death, suicide attempts spark fear

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Following the death of a detainee near Heathrow, an impending crisis in immigration detention is being anticipated by lawyers and charities, alongside more fear due to subsequent suicide attempts in the Colnbrook immigration removal center.

The Home Office confirmed that investigations have been launched after the death of Frank Ospina on March 26 after being held at Colnbrook. Ospina is believed to be from Colombia, and although detainees claim he committed suicide, that part has not been confirmed yet.

Center manager Paul Rennie sent a notice to detainees on that day saying, “It is with respect that I have to announce that resident Mr. Frank Ospina sadly passed away today," adding, “Please be assured we are doing all we can to reduce the risks of such incidents happening again in the future.”

According to The Guardian, reports about the attempted suicides of several detainees have been circulating, alongside a staged protest at the center.

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Rule 35 reports are being delayed, according to charities that assess the vulnerabilities of those detained to examine if they are a suicide risk, but the Home Office has not commented on that as of yet. 

This comes after the Home Office announced that immigration detention will be expanded, followed by a report by officials on March 31 that said that it is up to the "home secretary rather than the courts to determine what is a reasonable time period to detain an individual."

One detainee told The Guardian, “We are all feeling very frustrated after the death on Sunday. There are a lot of tensions here because more detainees attempted suicide after the news of Mr. Ospina’s death circulated. The center is at full capacity at the moment.”

'Seeking safety but finding pain'

Legal Director of Bail For Immigration Detainees Pierre Makhlouf expressed distress after hearing the news of Ospina's death, stating, "We have serious concerns that the situation is deteriorating at the center. We have received reports of self-harm and worsening of overall conditions. The atmosphere at Heathrow IRC is described as tense.”

Calling the death of Ospina "shocking", director of Medical Justice, Emma Ginn, explained that "there always has been, and continues to be, a complete failure of clinical safeguards in immigration removal centers. Medical Justice is greatly concerned about the massive expansion of immigration detention that the illegal migration bill calls for. The more people are detained, the more deaths there are likely to be.”

In response to the death, a Home Office spokesperson released a statement saying, “Any death in immigration detention is a tragic event and will be subject to investigation by the police, the coroner, or procurator fiscal in Scotland, and the independent prisons and probation ombudsman." 

The spokesperson added that all centers are equipped with both physical and mental support to detainees, in addition to "24-hour primary healthcare and welfare teams on site. Policies and procedures are in place to safeguard and provide support to individuals in detention deemed to have suicidal intentions. This is in place to safeguard vulnerable people in detention.”

Founder of the charity care4Calais, Clare Moseley, said, “It is devastating to hear of people who come here seeking safety but find only pain. A full investigation is essential to ensure asylum seekers receive the care they deserve.”

Currently, the government runs seven immigration detention facilities, as well as a few short-term holding facilities throughout the UK. According to officials, 3,000 people can be accommodated at once. If the two additional centers are built, the number of people the Home Office may imprison will more than double.