Home Office tried to remove two Duncan Lewis clients over the Christmas period (Guardian) (7 January 2019)

Jamie Bell has spoken to the Guardian following the Home Office’s attempt to remove his clients over the Christmas period. One, a woman from South America is a potential victim of trafficking who is at risk of suicide – despite this she was scheduled for removal on Boxing Day. She wasn’t the only scheduled removal, with another of Jamie’s clients who was booked for Christmas day. He was successful in challenging his South American client's removal and was able to defer it by making urgent representations demonstrating that she is unfit to fly. The Congolese client’s removal was halted following a petition launched on his behalf. Jamie spoke to the Guardian about the Home Office’s practice to remove detainees over the festive period. He states: “The Home Office attempted to remove a potential victim of trafficking and domestic abuse who was segregated due to her active self-harm and suicidal ideation to the country where she was horrendously exploited. She was totally confused and terrified of returning, so much that she planned to take her own life. The policy of Christmas removals is one that severely impedes full and entitled representation. We struggle to see how arresting Otis Bolamu in a dawn raid at 4am on 19 December and telling him that he was to be returned on Christmas Day can be considered reasonable and proportionate action. We are very happy removal was deferred and we will have time to work on his further submissions. The holidays are supposed to be a time for joy and togetherness, not for the Home Office to take advantage to try to forcibly remove individuals to countries where they are fearful of return.”