Due to multiple requests (1), and because I wanted an excuse anyway, here’s my thread on UK immigration detention since most people don’t realise what the Albion's immigration policy is like (this is a light version btw, refugees face far worse): 1/33 https://twitter.com/chordadept/status/1501282006554058763

I was detained for ~8hrs without a clear reason, all my documents were in order. 2/33

There were people with some minor issues in their papers, not that it would justify the treatment I’m about to describe, or that the UK immigration regulations make sense in the first place, but if anyone still thinks “well at least they catch illegals”: no 3/33

Sometimes they detain people randomly, bc officials didn’t like the country of origin or them personally. 4/33

They don’t tell you anything, just look at your paperwork, talk to someone, then ask to come with them. 5/33

First, they lead you to a transparent cube right next to the border control cabins, where you sit for a few hours on display for a huge crowded queue 6/33

So everyone going through the border sees that you’re the baddy (but seriously it’s kinda dehumanising and people shouldn’t be put on display as criminals (criminals shouldn’t be either btw) without any proven wrongdoings) 7/33

Then a few officers take you to the luggage area, where they ask to confirm that the luggage they have assigned to you is yours. Once you do, they start opening and searching it, along with handbags, but you have no option to object while other officers take you elsewhere. 8/33

Next destination is detention room. Before you enter, you’re pat-searched. If you have a wallet, they make you count and sign on how much money you have there before taking it, as if theft is their biggest lawsuit concern (spoiler: it wasn’t, but that’s another story). 9/33

The room is...very cold and grey (it feels like the whole space blends). There are, iirc, 2 wall mounted payphones (yes, the old-school type), a bathroom, and 4-5 rows of ~5 cold metal seats (yup, 2 phones and a bathroom are supposed to accommodate for all). 10/33

You can ask for a blanket though, if you decide to sleep on the seats (not like there’s anywhere else to sleep), isn’t that generous, you filthy foreigner?! 11/33

There, you spend an indefinite amount of time, they don’t give you updates. I will point out that up to that point I still wasn’t told why I was detained. Officers either ignored the question, grinned, or said some equivalent of “you’ll find out later”. 12/33

Communication is usually tough business for UKVI in general – in order to ask for an update on a delayed visa application (that you already paid hundreds for) you need to pay to write them an email (£5.48 per email, I’m not shitting) 13/33

I knew for a fact my papers were fine - imagine what it’s like for people who don't have that confidence 14/33

Let alone fleeing a war zone with no time to prepare, and then sitting there not knowing what’s wrong, having to guess if they’ll be treated like a terrorist due to some tiny error (which happens more than you know, but also another story) 15/33

Speaking of which, did you know that we have to be cleared by a separate certification before applying for visas in certain uni degrees (mainly physics and engineering courses) because they “can be used to create a weapon of mass destruction”? It’s called ATAS. 16/33

Anyway after some time (couple of hours?) I was called for interrogation. It’s another grey room, only a lot smaller, with a desk, a recording device on top, and 2 chairs on the opposite sides. 17/33

The officer that was to interrogate me had my personal diary in their hands. 18/33

I don't usually have one but my doc insisted I write some things (I was going through something very disturbing at the time). Officer started asking me about the contents, in detail. Especially parts where I mentioned some very personal stuff (I’m talking therapy-grade). 19/33

TW: for self-off

They also asked if I was feeling s*icidal and if they had anything to worry about in that regard if they let me in (whatever that means). 20/33

Needless to say I destroyed all physical writing I had and don't have handwritten journals anymore. 21/33

After the interrogation the officer seemed to have warmed up to me.
- Will you search my phone too?
- Do you have anything to hide there?
- No.
- Then probably not. 22/33

(little did they know I take my digital encryption more seriously) 23/33

I was taken back to the detention room. While there, I got along with another woman. She was in a worse situation than me: she wasn’t fluent and didn’t have other pressing factors and help I had (health-related) to be let in ASAP. 24/33

She was on one of those wall phones most of the time trying to reach her family and some legal aid. 25/33

I have a condition that often makes it difficult to stay warm, I was shaking. She offered me her blanket and tried to get some attention, but was dismissed. She stayed close whenever she could to make sure I was okay. 26/33

After a few more hours I was told I could go.
- Which way?
- You can go in
27/33

I felt relief - my whole life was in the UK (not to mention nearly all of my belongings, my medical treatments for life-threatening conditions, etc), I’d lived here for a while, and I was exhausted. 28/33

When I was being taken away the woman I acquainted was on the phone, crying. Once she saw me leaving, her face lit up briefly – she seemed so happy for me. I could read her lips as she said “good luck” when the officers escorted me out of the room. 29/33

I want to emphasise:
• My documents were indeed fine
• I was never told the reason
30/33

• I was a returning visa holder with my employer having my back and providing legal aid, and even my med treatment team stepping in along with other referees. I wasn’t a refugee, but an incredibly privileged and well-connected professional. 31/33

I can’t fucking imagine how horrible it is for refugees or just less fortunate people as the UK immigration policy is far more hostile towards them than someone like me 32/33

(actually, I can imagine – they literally let them drown and send them to inevitable death in war zones, the dipshits, but I still can’t truly know what it’s like) 33/33

PLEASE DONATE TO REFUGEE AID @RefugeeAction @NACCOMnetwork @safepassageuk @refugeecouncil @RefugeesAtHome @RoomForRefugees @4refugeewomen @JCWI_UK @CityofSanctuary @RESCUE_UK 34/33

Ukraine-focused: https://savelife.in.ua/  ( @BackAndAlive ), http://monstrov.org/rekvizity/  , @UnitedHelpUA , @razomforukraine 35/33

Fin 36/33 bc I can’t count apparently