Undocumented Migrants: Detention Centres

Immigration detention plays a key role in maintaining effective immigration controls and securing the UK’s borders. The Home Office detains people initially for examination purposes and for the purpose of removing people who have no right to remain in the UK but refuse to leave voluntarily. A person may be detained for a period that the Secretary of State reasonably considers necessary to carry out the examination or removal, make a decision, or directions to be given.

There is limited detained accommodation. The Home Office currently operates seven Immigration Removal Centres, three residential Short-Term Holding Facilities and one Pre-Departure Accommodation for families. These house a mixture of time-served foreign national offenders and immigration offenders. A number of factors go into deciding who to detain and determining whether detention is appropriate. All decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Separately, the Home Secretary is legally required to support those seeking asylum in the UK who would otherwise be destitute. This obligation is fulfilled through the provision of appropriate non-detained accommodation. The Home Office remains committed to reducing reliance on hotel accommodation and is actively pursuing alternative solutions to meet our statutory obligations.