No maximum time limit leaves migrants in limbo and at risk
UK
In the United Kingdom, immigration detention remains a stark example of how migration policies can harm people’s dignity, rights, and wellbeing. Unlike most European countries, the UK does not impose a maximum time limit on immigration detention. This practice means that people—many of whom have fled violence, persecution, or economic instability—can be held for months or even years, without knowing when or if they will be released.
A recent investigation by Maldita.es explores the human cost of this policy. In the report, IDC’s Executive Director, Carolina Gottardo, highlights the profound impact that indefinite detention can have on people’s mental health. “Uncertainty is one of the worst things. It causes mental anguish and trauma,” she says. Detention, especially without a clear end, exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and strips people of the sense of control over their lives.
Research consistently shows that immigration detention affects people’s physical, psychological and social wellbeing. IDC’s global briefing on the issue reveals that symptoms such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and self-harm are widespread in detention settings.
These effects are not only devastating while in detention but often persist long after release. For families, the damage is intergenerational: children separated from parents, or those who witness the detention of loved ones, are left with lasting trauma.
The story of Mama Stella—told in a special IDC report—illustrates this reality with painful clarity. A mother, grandmother, and community leader, Mama Stella was detained in the UK for months. Her health deteriorated, and she faced isolation and despair. “I felt like I was invisible,” she recounts. Her story is a powerful reminder that behind policies and statistics are real people, with lives put on hold and rights denied.
The UK’s lack of a statutory time limit on detention not only breaches principles of fairness and proportionality, but also stands in contradiction to human rights standards. As global momentum grows for alternatives to detention that respect people’s rights and lead to better outcomes, the UK’s continued reliance on this harmful practice is increasingly out of step.
IDC advocates for the promotion of rights-based, community-centred, alternatives to detention that protect the rights and wellbeing of people, lead towards case resolution, and are a fraction of the cost of immigration detention. Alternatives need to be promoted to reduce and ultimately end immigration detention. We need to move from a migration governance system that favours surveillance and control towards migration governance based on rights, protection and pathways.
Take action
We encourage you to read Maldita.es powerful series on immigration detention in the UK to understand the scale of the problem and the human stories behind it.
Read the full investigation: Maldita.es on UK detention
Learn more about Mama Stella’s story: IDC’s Shorthand Report
