Report from Bradford Day of Action

About 70 people attended 

a Destitution Day of Action in Bradford

, hearing speeches from 

Nigerian asylum seeker 

Harry 

Femi

, who  has first hand experience of the appalling impact of destitution,  local immigration lawyer Barry Clark, who outlined the injustice of a legal process which forces refused asylum seekers into destitution, and 

Bradford City of Sanctuary chair 

Will Sutcliffe who spoke of some of the practical ways that people can get involved locally to support destitute asylum seekers.

Barry Clark told the T&A "The government should not be using destitution as a means to enforce its harsh immigration and asylum policies, leaving people without food, shelter or the right to work"

In his speech, Will Sutcliffe made reference to the academic report published last year,  'No Return, No Asylum. Destitution as a way of life?' which counted 66 people, including 10 children in Bradford, made destitute after their asylum claims were refused.

The event was part of a national day of action on asylum destitution, with events taking place in cities across the UK.