On Saturday 22 November, people gathered outside Campsfield House in Kidlington to oppose the planned reopening of the immigration detention centre. Asylum Welcome staff and volunteers stood alongside local residents and partner organisations, united in solidarity with people whose lives are harmed by detention.

A protester holds a handmade placard reading “Keep Campsfield Closed” in bright green, blue and red lettering, surrounded by other demonstrators and banners at an outdoor protest.
A large hand-painted yellow arrow-shaped protest sign reading “WE POINT TOWARDS JUSTICE” with a red heart, held above a crowd of demonstrators against a grey sky, with other colourful placards partially visible nearby.
An orange banner reading “COALITION TO KEEP CAMPSFIELD CLOSED” is tied across a large blue Oxford Technology Park sign that says “Science and Technology”, beside a roadside verge under an overcast sky.
A young protester in a red jacket holds up a cardboard sign reading “SUPPORT REFUGEES” with small hearts, standing among a crowd of demonstrators with brightly coloured protest signs and buildings in the background under a grey sky.
An orange banner reading “END IMMIGRATION DETENTION” with “NO” symbols at each end is tied to a wooden fence along a roadside verge, with hedges, trees and a cloudy sky in the background

Photos (above and below) by @Fengh0.

The protest was organised by the Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed (CKCC), co-founded by Asylum Welcome in July 2022, alongside Oxford Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and other groups.

Speakers included our Joint CEO Dr Hari Reed, Councillors Ian Middleton and Mike Rowley, Dr Helen Groom from No To Hassockfield, and Bill MacKeith, Vice President of Oxford Trades Union Council. Protesters held placards reading “Freedom is a human right” and “Keep Campsfield Closed”, as chants echoed across the site calling for the detention centre to remain shut.

Students were out in strong numbers, continuing a long tradition of student activism in Oxford challenging injustice and standing up for shared humanity.

The protest was organised by the Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed (CKCC), co-founded by Asylum Welcome in July 2022, alongside Oxford Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and other groups.

Speakers included our Joint CEO Dr Hari Reed, Councillors Ian Middleton and Mike Rowley, Dr Helen Groom from No To Hassockfield, and Bill MacKeith, Vice President of Oxford Trades Union Council. Protesters held placards reading “Freedom is a human right” and “Keep Campsfield Closed”, as chants echoed across the site calling for the detention centre to remain shut.

Students were out in strong numbers, continuing a long tradition of student activism in Oxford challenging injustice and standing up for shared humanity.

A speaker wearing a beige beanie, glasses and a thick scarf holds a microphone and addresses the crowd outside Campsfield, with blue industrial buildings and winter hedges in the background.

Speaking at the protest, Dr Hari Reed said:

“This might be the last time that we’re standing out here with Campsfield closed, but we are going to be here the next time Campsfield closes. There’s been people standing outside here for the last 30 years, and there will be people representing us who are still here for however long it takes for this place to close again. We’re still going to be supporting the people who are affected day to day by these policies.”

Sadly, we are now working under the assumption that Campsfield will reopen at the beginning of December. While we continue to oppose its reopening and expansion, we have also decided that Asylum Welcome will do what we can to support the people who may soon be held there.

Asylum Welcome was formed in response to the opening of Campsfield and has a long history of supporting immigration detainees. For twenty-five years, our dedicated volunteer visitors were present at Campsfield on a regular basis, offering human contact, practical support and advocacy to those who sought help. They provided a vital bridge to the outside world — to families, solicitors and doctors — while also raising concerns with those running the centre and with national government. This work reflects our belief that while immigration detention must be challenged and ultimately ended, people detained at Campsfield should never be abandoned.

From January to March 2026, we will pilot a three-month detainee visiting service at the reopened Campsfield, with the hope that it can continue beyond the pilot phase (subject to funding). This will be led by our current coordinator for the Huntercombe prison-visiting service. We will share more details soon for anyone interested in becoming a Campsfield visitor.

We are grateful to everyone who attended the protest and to all those who continue to support our work. Together, we will keep standing for compassion, welcome and sanctuary in Oxfordshire.

Roadside view with a sign pointing to “Ambulance Station” and “Campsfield House” on the left, while a large group of protesters with placards gathers on the pavement in the distance outside the Campsfield site under an overcast sky.