Notes:
10/2/2020: Kevin Foster MP answers questions in the House of Commons on the 50 people due to be deported to Jamaica on Tuesday February 11th. His argument is that those set to be deported were judged on criminality, not nationality. Foster also argues that those questioning this judgement should not conflate this group set to be deported with people from "the Windrush Generation", despite the fact the Windrush Scandal emerged from the Home Office unlawfully criminalising people from former British colonies due to a misrepresentation of their nationality. He also argues that the Home Office are merely following the law based on the UK borders Act of 2007 drawing attention to the fact that this law was implemented by the then Labour government. However, those in the current opposition argue that these deportations should wait until the independent "Lessons Learned Review" of the Windrush Scandal is published.
The Home Office has been subject to an independent review led by Wendy Williams for unlawfully deporting and detaining British citizens. Although listening to the answers given by Home Secretary Priti Patel and Kevin Foster MP, and the scheduled flight chartered to Jamaica tomorrow, it is clear the Home Office feels under no obligation to wait for the publication of the review before carrying out further removals. This is despite representatives of the Home Office attending community events across the country apologising for past Home Office policies, and pointing to the unpublished indpendent review as proof they have taken action to right the wrongs as a step towards rebuilding trust with affected communities.
A recent community event organised by Windrush Defenders Legal in Manchester started with civil servant Daniel Hobbs apologising on behalf of the UK government for the social problems caused by their immigration enforcement strategy under the Hostile Environment. However, the decision to pursue the current set of deportations without the publication of the review indicates a shift in approach and accountability to the historical inequities at the intersection of race and law which have overwhelmingly affected people of Jamaican descent.