Friday, September 04, 2009
Children, Detention, and Cooperation?
Emma and I recently visited a woman “R” who had been detained in Dungavel prior to her removal to Pakistan. R was coping okay with her predicament until her children were able to join her in the visitors’ area. The youngest child was clearly confused, asking “please, let’s just get the bus and go back home.” At this point, the atmosphere became very emotional and the stressed mother had difficulty holding back her tears.
The detention of children is a particularly controversial Home Office policy. In the first half of 2009, 470 children were put into detention. While detention is portrayed as an inevitable “last resort”, the UKPA reports that “out of 225 children released from detention in the second quarter of 2009, only 100 were removed from the UK - suggesting they had been locked up unnecessarily.” This has raised many questions about current procedures.
As always, it is easy to remain pragmatic about the issue until one actually encounters detained children and sees the effect that it has. There is a danger that those of us who work with asylum seekers will find ourselves constantly at loggerheads with the Home Office, being at the relational end of the issue. I am somewhat heartened that this report about the detention of children came from Home Office itself – and I’m sure they were aware of the negative response it would garner. It’s too easy to criticise the Home Office, without offering anything constructive. I recognise that have the freedom to meet people where they are at, show Christ’s love to people regardless of their good or bad decisions (e.g. Eph 5:2, Mt 25:40, Jn 8:7), and the Home Office does not operate on these principles. This is not an excuse for child detention, but recognition that the issue is multifaceted.
This issue, in particular, has reconfirmed my desire for form a more constructive relationship with the Home Office. We believe in ministry that is relational, and that relational distinctive should include all of those that we come into contact with. What would happen if I offered the Home Office my assistance, rather than criticism alone? Could I ever view the Home Office as a partner, rather than an adversary? This is easier said than done and would require much wisdom, though I believe that greater cooperation would lead to a more accountable process for all involved. For example, it would mean facing the uncomfortable reality that the end of the asylum process might be removal, but working to make this process as just and nontraumatic as possible. Bringing the “human element” into the asylum debate requires more than argument, but relationship (clearly, the last year of criticism has not produced any tangible improvements regarding the detention of children). Cooperation means that we can act as a witness to Christ not only to the marginalised, but those in power.
Pray for the children in detention.
Pray for the people in the Home Office who make difficult decisions.
Pray that everybody involved can work together for more just solutions.
Pray that the Christians involved can bring reconciliation, integrity, and love into a polarised situation.
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