A protest was held at Brand St immigration removal centre in Glasgow this afternoon (Monday 19th) in support of a family worried about imminent removal. Around 30-40 people gathered outside the gates of Brand Street in support of an Albanian family who had approached campaigners to say they were worried about being deported at their next "appointment". They had been asked to bring passports and all other such documentation to the meeting, where they would be isolated from legal or other support workers and, they feared, put then into a van to be taken elsewhere. The show of solidarity seems to have spooked the Home Office because after an hour or so the family were assured that they would not be "removed" (at least this time) and a Police officer could attend their appointment with them to make sure the immigration officers didn't go back on their word or trick them into signing a "voluntary" removal paper. After another wee while, the family emerged to cheers from the waiting supporters. As good as this result is, this family and many like them remain in a precarious situation. They have to return to Brand Street early next year, trapped in the seemingly endless cycle of weekly registration and with no guarantee that this won't happen next time. Speakers at the demo emphasised the importance of asylum seekers standing together to look after each other and to speak out when they are afraid of being the next victims of the asylum system and brutal, arbitrary border controls. Today's action was part of a growing wave of solidarity to stop deportations. Reports of actions at Brand Street last week to stop the dawn raids on asylum seekers can be read at http://scotland.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2404/index.php The Glasgow No Borders network can be contacted at noborders-glasgow@riseup.net

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