A strong opposition has formed among students who are determined to challenge the reopening of a "de-humanising" detention centre in Oxfordshire. Over 140 academics and student bodies
at Oxford University have signed an open letter addressed to the Home Office, expressing their concerns.
Campsfield House, located on Langford Lane in Kidlington, is an immigration detention centre that faced significant local protests and was forced to close in 2017.
The government has recently announced plans to reopen the facility, potentially transforming it into a new 400-bedroom immigration removal centre for men.
On Friday afternoon, June 16, Oxford University students took to the streets to demonstrate their solidarity with refugees and express their opposition to the government's plans.
The open letter has garnered support from various signatories, including Helen Mountfield, the principal of Mansfield College, student societies like STAR Oxford, and the student union.
The protest, held outside the Radcliffe Camera at 1 pm, involved not only students but also members of the public.
Displaying a "Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed" banner, students passionately chanted, "We are here from the University of Oxford to say keep Campsfield closed."
Juliet Van Gyseghem, president of Student Action for Refugees, acknowledged that students could sometimes be "quite insular," but emphasized the importance of the university community being actively engaged with issues that have significant consequences in the county.
She stated, "The university recently received sanctuary status, so we believe it is important to fully embrace and not just pay lip service to these values." Photo by Roundabout on Langford Lane by Steve Daniels, Wikimedia commons.