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To explain what an immigration detention centre actually is

137 replies

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 05/05/2026 20:18

AIBU to explain what an immigration detention centre is? We have a major political party stating that they want to build new detention centres in constituencies that vote for another party. But even they seem confused, if not intentionally misleading people. So I thought I'd save people a bit of Googling as there seems to be some serious misunderstanding. So below is a Google summary. Happy to be told I'm unreasonable for trying to educate people.

An immigration detention centre (or Immigration Removal Centre - IRC) is a secure facility where foreign nationals are held, often in prison-like conditions, while the government resolves their immigration status. These centres are used to detain asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, or those awaiting deportation.
Administrative Process:
Detention is not a criminal sentence ordered by a court, but an administrative decision often made by immigration authorities.
Purpose: Centers are primarily used for initial processing, establishing identity, or holding individuals for removal/deportation from the country.
Conditions: Despite not being prisons, many facilities are high-security with locked cells, limited contact with the outside world, and often managed by private companies.
Legal Standing: People detained often include asylum seekers and people whose visas have expired

OP posts:
plims · 05/05/2026 20:40

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 05/05/2026 20:36

As I said in the opening, I copied from Google. I couldn't explain it as well in my own words.

Edited

It’s just a bit strange to say you’re trying to “educate people”, when you yourself are not knowledgeable enough to write about them without using google.

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 05/05/2026 20:36

plims · 05/05/2026 20:34

Are those your own words? It reads a bit like ChatGPT.

As I said in the opening, I copied from Google. I couldn't explain it as well in my own words.

OP posts:
plims · 05/05/2026 20:34

Are those your own words? It reads a bit like ChatGPT.

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 05/05/2026 20:32

OneTealShaker · 05/05/2026 20:22

What’s your point?

People who didn’t vote for mass immigration don’t want these facilities where they live. It’s quite simple.

My point was to tell people what an immigration detention centre was because I have noticed that many people don't know despite joining in debates about them. I think this might be because of the rhetoric of Reform. Is that something that you've also noticed?

Mass immigration would lead to fewer detention centres, not more.

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 05/05/2026 20:31

I think the PP's have summed it up very well. Reform are basically stirring. Immigration is not the issue that they purport it to be, especially small boat crossings, which while they are concerning, are not a huge issue.

The current government have reduced net migration by 69%, and are processing irregular, and regular migration applicants, and asylum seekers at a greater rate than the previous government did and with a higher level of rejections.

They could probably get small boat crossings to zero and Farage would still be banging on about migration, and his blind followers would still buy in to the rhetoric.

Wildflowergalore · 05/05/2026 20:29

Plasticdreams · 05/05/2026 20:26

I believe this goes against human rights. I would personally look at the centres/camps Trump has set up in the U.S. to see how it is working out for them. Check all news sources not just Fox News.
If this ever happens (which I hope it doesn’t) and I live in a Green run area, I welcome them and the new jobs they will create in my local area.

Reform actually think that the left won’t want the camps near their homes, but what they don’t realise is that we are not afraid like they are! It would be scary if you think anyone brown is a threat, but we don’t!

They had them for decades already?

SpecialAgentMaggieBell · 05/05/2026 20:27

It’s very easy for Reform to bang on about all the things they’ll do when in power. But the reality is, they’re never going to get in. They’re like the Lib Dem’s and Greens, they’re never going to actually have to try and put these policies into practice so they can make them as ridiculous as they like.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 05/05/2026 20:27

And how much much would it cost all the electorate to build those?

Seriously, there is no point trying to rationalise the bullshit Reform come out with, they’re fucking morons.

scalt · 05/05/2026 20:27

I agree with you, I’ve seen a video about it. Basically, places resembling concentration camps. We all know which party is proposing this idea: and yes, because those who vote for them don’t want these places in their back yards, they propose to build them in constituencies where they will not win.

it reminds me of those Covid centres, to house the “unclean” when they came back from abroad. Rwanda was somebody’s flagship scheme that went nowhere, this sounds like more of the same. Tell the masses what they want to hear.

Plasticdreams · 05/05/2026 20:26

I believe this goes against human rights. I would personally look at the centres/camps Trump has set up in the U.S. to see how it is working out for them. Check all news sources not just Fox News.
If this ever happens (which I hope it doesn’t) and I live in a Green run area, I welcome them and the new jobs they will create in my local area.

Reform actually think that the left won’t want the camps near their homes, but what they don’t realise is that we are not afraid like they are! It would be scary if you think anyone brown is a threat, but we don’t!

AgnesX · 05/05/2026 20:25

Until they get into government that party won't be building anything anywhere. Everyone can relax, for the time being anyway.

OneTealShaker · 05/05/2026 20:22

What’s your point?

People who didn’t vote for mass immigration don’t want these facilities where they live. It’s quite simple.

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