Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention r224

This report explores the characteristics, motivations and experiences of members of the illegally resident migrant population (alternatively called the ‘unauthorised’ population). The fieldwork was conducted between December 2001 and March 2002 and the methodology consisted of face-to-face interviews with a sample of 83 migrants detained in three UK detention centres. Migrants were originally selected at random from a list of detention residents, and via a process of screening questions a final sample was chosen that represented the range of nationalities from major regions of significant immigration to the UK. The sample was then boosted to include migrants of particular nationalities that were under-represented. Only those who had resided illegally in the UK for at least three months prior to their detention were included in the final sample, whether they initially entered the UK legally or illegally.

The main reason for choosing the UK was its perceived safety followed by the availability of jobs and the presence of family members or friends. The majority had friends or relatives in the UK prior to leaving their home country. The majority had worked illegally whilst in the UK and most others relied on family members or friends to support them. Individuals were often prepared to take lower skilled jobs than they were qualified for, and reports of poor working conditions and long hours were quite common. Three-quarters of those who had considered their future plans reported that they would again leave their country of origin – in most cases to return to the UK. For many this was because they feared for their safety in their home country, or because they now felt they had no ‘home’ to return to.