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 […]
Stop the hostile environment
Campaign Updates:
Slavery and trafficking: a 2022 briefing for the Jewish community

The right to be free from enslavement is a fundamental human right
The Nationality and Borders Act: making the environment evermore hostile
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 […]
#Refugee Week 2022: Ways to challenge the hostile environment

Stop the inhumane policy of sending refugees to Rwanda
Offshoring in Rwanda: what’s the problem and what can you do about it
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 […]
The war in Ukraine: How to support Ukrainian refugees

From opening up your home to helping those working on the ground
Call to action: stop the Anti-Refugee Bill
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 Nationality & Borders Bill, what can you do?
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 […]
The EU must accept responsibility for the use of violence towards refugees and asylum seekers at Europe’s borders
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 […]
Active Remembering: Urgent Significance of Offshore Detention of Jewish Refugees
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 […]
The New Plan for Immigration: what is it and why is it so harmful?
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 […]
Refugee Week 2021

Celebrating the contribution, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary
René Cassin’s response to the government’s consultation on the New Plan for Immigration
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 […]
Call to action: sign our interfaith letter against women’s detention centre in Hassockfield, Durham
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 […]
Remembering Amir Siman-Tov and the cost of the UK’s immigration system
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 […]
Vote for Human Rights!

Key questions to put to anyone asking for your vote on 12 December
Kindertransport to the Hostile Environment: Britain’s Immigration System Then and Now

Report of our Parliamentary event for Refugee Week 2019
The Lethal Policy of Indefinite Immigration Detention
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 […]
Refugee Week 2019
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 […]
MPs Call for End to Indefinite Detention

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 […]
Parliamentary Committee Backs Call for a 28-day Time Limit

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 […]
These Walls Must Fall in Bristol

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 […]
René Cassin submits evidence to Parliamentary inquiry into immigration detention

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
Shaw Review 2: “The time that many people spend in detention remains deeply troubling”

Stephen Shaw has published his long-awaited second review into UK immigration detention.
2018 Has Seen Our System of Immigration Detention Go from Bad to Worse

Michael Goldin calls for government reforms to an “appalling” system of immigration control.
“They are playing with people’s lives” – treatment of Jewish refugee highlights the UK’s shameful policy of indefinite detention

“I thought that Britain was a country of human rights but this is not the case in detention”
Solidarity as a Jewish Value: Why René Cassin is Setting up a Jewish Visitors Group

Interested in supporting someone in immigration detention? We want to hear from you!
‘The Windrush Generation’ – statement by René Cassin

The Government must provide adequate resources to confirm the secure immigration status of all affected
Women in Hunger Strike at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Government criticised over treatment of detainees
‘A Matter of Routine’ – the cruelty and absurdity of indefinite immigration detention

28 day limit and community-based schemes offer more humane alternatives
René Cassin Goes Live – Immigration Detention Discussion

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 […]
Abuse in Detention is a Symptom of a Wider Problem

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
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 […]
What do the Manifestos say about Human Rights?

The key questions to ask your candidates
Oppressing the stranger – another death in UK detention

There are community-based alternatives to the fatal inhumanity of immigration detention
‘Lost humanity? Vulnerable Women in Detention’

How immigration detention affects women – and what Jewish teaching can tell us
‘A prison in all but name’
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 […]
18 months campaigning against indefinite detention

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 […]
Write to your MP today!
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 […]
New Video. Detention in the 1940s: The story of Fritz Lustig

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.
Put a key on your Seder plate this Pesach
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 […]
‘Amir died at his most vulnerable…’
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 […]
Response to death of Amir Siman-Tov at Colnbrook Detention Centre
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 […]
Shaw Review – positive but piecemeal
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 […]
René Cassin again raises the indefinite detention of asylum seekers
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 […]
Asylum Detention Past and Present – René Cassin hosts event at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue
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 […]
“Broken and unfair” – René Cassin Director calls for immigration detention time limit

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 …
Detention Debate in Parliament
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 […]
Religious Leaders on Immigration Detention: A Force to be Reckoned With
Leaders from René Cassin and Tzelem attended the London Church Refugee Network meeting to discuss interfaith campaigning on indefinite detention. Read more here.
Detention Interfaith Tent
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. […]
Detention Fast-Track Procedure Suspended
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 submits evidence to review of immigration detention
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
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
‘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 […]
Immigration detention – “expensive, ineffective and unjust”

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 […]