This guest blog was written by The Latin American Women’s Rights Service for Refugee Week 2022. This year Refugee Week’s theme is healing. As a migrant women’s community organisation, healing […]

A view from René Cassin activist and immigration lawyer, Michael Goldin   While the infamous Nationality and Borders Act 2022 has already been signed into law, many of its provisions have […]

This year has posed so many new challenges to the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers, who deserve a just and dignified life. From the passage of the Nationality […]

We have submitted evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, reasserting our “grave concerns about the state of asylum seekers rights today.” Read it in full HERE. Our […]

The right to be free from enslavement is a fundamental human right

A view from René Cassin activist and immigration lawyer, Michael Goldin   While the infamous Nationality and Borders Act 2022 has already been signed into law, many of its provisions have […]

Stop the inhumane policy of sending refugees to Rwanda

Last week the UK government announced its plans to initiate offshore processing and settling of asylum seekers in Rwanda. These measures are inhumane, dangerous, and ineffective. They contravene international human […]

From opening up your home to helping those working on the ground

CLICK HERE to use our template letter for Jewish constituents to write to your MP. (You can find your MP by typing your address here.) The Anti-Refugee Bill (Nationality and […]

The Anti-Refugee Bill (Nationality and Borders Bill) is soon returning to the House of Commons, which means it is time for us to use our voices and contact our local […]

Recent reporting from numerous NGOs and activist groups has revealed the systematic use of violence against migrants at Europe’s borders. Whilst the EU has tried to distance itself from these […]

By Stav Salpeter, Ambassador, René Cassin The Home Office caused an uproar when it announced its plans to reinstate a system of offshore detention last fall. The concern of adopting […]

By Michael Goldin, immigration lawyer and René Cassin detention volunteers group coordinator Earlier this year the Home Secretary published the government’s New Plan for Immigration, which sets out proposed changes […]

Celebrating the contribution, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary

At the end of last month, René Cassin submitted a response to the Home Office’s plans to overhaul the asylum and immigration systems in the United Kingdom. A summary response […]

Read and sign the interfaith letter against Hassockfield HERE René Cassin is recruiting local, national and regional faith groups, communities and individuals across the UK, to sign on to our letter calling […]

by Michael Goldin, Coordinator of the Detention Jewish Visitors Group On Sunday 1st March I attended an event to mark the yatrzheit of a friend of mine, Amir Siman-Tov, who […]

Key questions to put to anyone asking for your vote on 12 December

Report of our Parliamentary event for Refugee Week 2019

René Cassin’s Campaigns Officer, Hannah Swirsky, writes in Jewish News Online: In Britain each year, around 25,000 migrants and asylum seekers are routinely locked up in detention centres – often […]

René Cassin is proud to support Refugee Week 2019 (17-23 June). Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, co-authored by our namesake Monsieur René Cassin, states that “everyone […]

By Bella Lever Last month, the Joint Committee on Human Rights published a report which called for a time limit on indefinite detention. One of the key reasons they list […]

Last week the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) published its report on immigration detention in the UK, joining René Cassin, and many others, in the call to end indefinite […]

Two Bristol students discuss the successful campaign for Bristol City Council to pass a These Walls Must Fall motion. Imagine this – you’re locked up, and you don’t know your […]

Post-Brexit, the UK has a unique opportunity to set the tone when it comes to progressing human rights. We promote a 28-day limit for immigration detention, and an increase in the use of alternatives to detention

Stephen Shaw has published his long-awaited second review into UK immigration detention.

Michael Goldin calls for government reforms to an “appalling” system of immigration control.

“I thought that Britain was a country of human rights but this is not the case in detention”

Interested in supporting someone in immigration detention? We want to hear from you!

By Jess Baker

The Government must provide adequate resources to confirm the secure immigration status of all affected

Government criticised over treatment of detainees

28 day limit and community-based schemes offer more humane alternatives

Our Campaigns Manager, Sam Grant, took 30 minutes to discuss the issue of Immigration Detention with Jeneration Students. Have a listen to Sam discussing what René Cassin do, what Immigration […]

In response to an upcoming BBC Panorama undercover documentary examining immigration detention, G4S have suspended nine members of staff pending abuse allegations. You can read their statement here. The mistreatment […]

Minorities amongst Minorities: The LGBT experience in UK Detention Centres  René Cassin Personal Project Emma Falley July 2017 René Cassin works towards a world where everyone can fully enjoy their […]

The key questions to ask your candidates

Human Rights and the General Election

There are community-based alternatives to the fatal inhumanity of immigration detention

How immigration detention affects women – and what Jewish teaching can tell us

This article is published as part of ‘Unlocking Detention’ – an annual ‘virtual’ tour of the UK’s detention estate, which aims to shine a spotlight on one of the gravest […]

It has been an incredibly busy 18 months within our campaign to end indefinite detention. We’ve achieved some great breakthroughs but we still have plenty to do. Read our report […]

Latest on the Immigration Bill. Lords Ramsbotham’s amendment on judicial oversight returns to the House of Commons on the 9th May. Now is the time to write to your MP […]

Like many people seeking asylum in Britain today, thousands of Jewish refugees were interned by their hosts. In the 1940s, along with tens of thousands of other individuals, mainly Jews, Fritz Lustig was detained on the Isle of Man.

Watch our video to learn about his story and what the differences and similarities are between then and now.

As we celebrate freedom at our Passover Seder, we remind ourselves of those whose freedom is still restricted. Get involved and take a small step to help raise awareness of […]

On the 17th February, Amir Siman-Tov was sadly found dead at Colnbrook Detention Centre. The details around the circumstances of his death are still unclear. Amir is the 26th person […]

On the 17th February, Amir Siman-Tov was sadly found dead at Colnbrook Detention Centre. The details around the circumstances of his death are unclear. The Jewish Chronicle have covered the […]

In May 2015, René Cassin submitted evidence to the Shaw Review into the welfare in immigration detention of vulnerable persons. Our submission highlighted the fact that the review would never be […]

Following our submission to the Immigration Bill Committee last month, René Cassin has written to the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights. We have again raised the issue of the indefinite […]

Last Sunday, as part of Mitzvah Day, René Cassin hosted an event at the Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue in order to raise awareness of indefinite detention. We heard compelling […]

Speaking at an event called in response to the refugee crisis, René Cassin’s director, Mia Hasenson-Gross was asked: “What changes in UK law do you think are needed to address the issue of indefinite immigration detention?”. Read her reply …

Today, 10th September 2015, Parliament sat down to debate detention for asylum seekers and refugees. Impassioned pleas were made by over 25 MPs, from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and […]

Leaders from René Cassin and Tzelem attended the London Church Refugee Network meeting to discuss interfaith campaigning on indefinite detention. Read more here.

Recently, Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders assembled at Harmondsworth Moor. The Moor sits five miles from the home of Magna Carta and a few feet away from Harmondsworth Detention Centre. […]

Minister for Immigration James Brokenshire has today announced the suspension of the Detained Fast Track asylum process in its entirety, following a series of successful legal challenges brought by Detention Action. […]

René Cassin were invited to submit evidence to the the Shaw Review of Welfare in Immigration Detention. Our central proposal is a simple one – the abolition of indefinite detention. René Cassin […]

Rabbis speak out after visit to detention centre Representatives from the rabbinical social justice group Tzelem attended the Harmondsworth Detention Centre to see conditions first-hand. They spoke to detainees and […]

‘Lost Souls’ of the Detention System The House of Lords debated immigration detention on the 26th of March 2015, demonstrating great compassion for the plight of some of the most […]

René Cassin welcomes today’s report by The Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of Immigration Detention in the UK. The report damns the current system as “expensive, ineffective and unjust” and […]

By Stav Salpeter, Ambassador, René Cassin The Home Office caused an uproar when it announced its plans to reinstate a system of offshore detention last fall. The concern of adopting […]

By Michael Goldin, immigration lawyer and René Cassin detention volunteers group coordinator Earlier this year the Home Secretary published the government’s New Plan for Immigration, which sets out proposed changes […]

By Edie Martin, Intern, René Cassin The view of Port Erin, drawn by a male internee on the Isle of Man for the Onchan Pioneer When the events of the […]

Celebrating the contribution, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary

Help us campaign to stop hate speech and hate crime

Help us campaign to stop hate speech and hate crime

“… an unnecessary evil and a totally avoidable catastrophe”

Ask them to support amendments to the Immigration Bill on a time limit for detention

Coronavirus has shown us that radical change is possible

A Refugee Week poem by Debora Singer

“We must advocate for a kinder treatment of asylum seekers within our country, and actively seek to redirect the narrative away from hostility and towards compassion.” writes Alfie Futerman  

YESTERDAY: On Sunday 6th November, dozens of British Jews formed the Jewish Bloc of the Shut Manston Protest outside the Manston Migration Centre in Kent. The protest, organised by SOAS […]

These measures are inhumane, dangerous, and ineffective

It belies not just international law, but basic human dignity

Lots done in ’21, lots more to do in ’22

By Alfie Futerman, René Cassin Ambassador “To be free. Overseas. Where ships set sail in the breeze on its mission, But there’s people on board with lives that they are […]

On the 15th April, the Domestic Abuse Bill will be going back to the House of Commons after its passage through the Lords. MPs will be voting on amendments put […]

By Esther Raffell, René Cassin’ Campaigns Officer International Women’s Day is a day of joy, affirmation, and resistance. For women and for people of marginalised genders, it can be tough […]

By Reanna Smith Immigration detention is putting asylum seekers in the UK at risk of suicide and self-harm. Two years ago, the Guardian revealed that there was an average of […]

by Reanna Smith The UK government has recently promised to make big changes to the UK’s asylum and immigration system, following an increasing number of refugee arrivals via small boat […]

By Miranda Zeffman On October 20th, the Court of Appeal ruled that a Home Office policy giving migrants just 72 hours’ notice of deportation was unlawful. The ‘Removal Notice Window’ […]

“I can’t believe I have been treated like this by my beloved England”

Javid wants policy to be fair, respectful and decent. UK policy is none of these.

Refugees enrich our society – but many suffer unfair and disproportionate treatment

Have a read and find out what our brilliant work experience students Soroh, Jessica and Julia, have been doing with us this Summer…

In response to Donald Trump’s ban on refugees from seven Muslim countries, Mia Hasenson-Gross, Director of René Cassin, commented: “Donald Trump’s ‘refugee ban’ is cruel, disproportionate and runs counter to […]

Find out about René Cassin’s refugee-themed day at Limmud Conference 2016

René Cassin is pleased that the Government has reversed the 500% court fees increase in the immigration tribunal. Mia Hasenson-Gross, Director of René Cassin, previously said that the massive hike […]

Want to help people through the asylum system? Find out how at these free workshops

Kevin Hyland, the UK’s anti-slavery commissioner has written a letter to Theresa May highlighting that delayed efforts to provide asylum to unaccompanied child refugees in Calais exposes these children to the risk of […]

The Government has announced that plans to implement increases of up to 500% in court fees for immigration and asylum cases will go ahead, despite all but five of 147 […]

This Saturday, the 17th September, tens of thousands of people will be marching in solidarity with refugees. If you want to join the Jewish bloc, you can meet outside Marble […]

Kezia Niman writes about the indelible link between Jewish history and the refugee crisis

“Dear Home Secretary, we are writing to urge you to maintain and increase the UK’s support for people who have fled violence, conflict and persecution, as part of the UK’s response to the global refugee emergency”.

The 20th June is World Refugee Day and the beginning of Refugee Week. Read our statement below and check out our twitter to look at all the different events going on […]

The UK government has proposed increasing the fees that need to be paid to appeal an asylum or immigration decision in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal in England and Wales. […]

We will be repeating these sessions on the 8th and 15th November in 2016. email [email protected] for more information   In the light of the biggest movement of refugees since […]

The current Immigration Bill is so far a missed opportunity to put an end to the harmful practice of indefinite detention. We have joined together with Tzelem to Lobby Peers and […]

The Bill represents an opportunity to end the indefinite detention of vulnerable people

We spent Shabbat at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue and gave the sermon on immigration detention. Click below to find out what the Torah portion ‘Chaye Sarah’ has to do with […]

In the most comprehensive review ever carried out on progress towards greater equality and human rights protection in Britain, The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) today reveals ‘winners’ and […]

Sunday 22 November, 1pm Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, 18-24 Oaklands Gate, Northwood, HA6 3AA The UK is the only country in the whole of Europe that does not have […]

Wednesday 7 October, 7pm at JW3, 341-351 Finchley Road, London NW3 6ET

As Europe faces its biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War, find out how the Jewish community has come together to offer tangible ways to make a difference.

Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” Refugees fleeing Syria and […]

Nick Hardwick, the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, has today found that Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre ‘is failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable women.’ For the […]

Fear and prejudice here and abroad Gay, lesbian and bisexual asylum seekers face discrimination at every step of the process. The already harrowing experience of indefinite detention is worsened when […]

Hidden Detainees: the Secret Struggle There is a significant discord between the number of immigrants detained in the UK and that reflected by the official Home Office figure. This is […]

Immoral, Inefficient, Ill-timed … René Cassin calls for halt to plans to expand Immigration Removal Centre 14 January 2015 As part of our work with the Detention Forum and our ongoing campaign to […]

During my time with René Cassin, I have been meeting with asylum seekers who had been detained in UK immigration removal centres. They had very different stories but with something in […]