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Deportation protesters glue themselves to detention center gate

By Andrew V. Pestano
Two people glued themselves to the gate of an immigration detention center near London's Heathrow Airport in an attempt to block a deportation flight from the United Kingdom to Africa. The Unity Center organized the protest and called for "urgent action" against the deportation, urging the public to contact the airport to "show opposition." Pictured: Police inform protesters blocking traffic on a major street near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility that they will be arrested if they do not move on April 8, 2014 in Broadview, Ill. The protest was the conclusion of a two-day march from ICE's Chicago office to their Broadview detention facility to protest the Obama administration's deportation policy for illegal immigrants. Eleven protesters were arrested for refusing to clear the street. File photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
Two people glued themselves to the gate of an immigration detention center near London's Heathrow Airport in an attempt to block a deportation flight from the United Kingdom to Africa. The Unity Center organized the protest and called for "urgent action" against the deportation, urging the public to contact the airport to "show opposition." Pictured: Police inform protesters blocking traffic on a major street near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility that they will be arrested if they do not move on April 8, 2014 in Broadview, Ill. The protest was the conclusion of a two-day march from ICE's Chicago office to their Broadview detention facility to protest the Obama administration's deportation policy for illegal immigrants. Eleven protesters were arrested for refusing to clear the street. File photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

LONDON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Two people glued themselves to the gate of an immigration detention center near London's Heathrow Airport in an attempt to block a deportation flight from the United Kingdom to Africa.

About 10 anti-deportation activists gathered Tuesday evening at the Colnbrook Immigration Removal Center, located northwest of the Heathrow Airport, to form a blockade to stop a bus carrying deportees, who were being taken to the London Stansted Airport for deportation to Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

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Police were at the scene for about five and a half hours. No arrests were made. A fire brigade from London's Fire Brigade was also sent.

"There were a small number of demonstrators in attendance at the immigration center who had been there since 5:30 p.m.," a Metropolitan Police Service spokesman said. "We were on the scene with the fire brigade in a monitoring role and there have been no arrests."

The Unity Center organized the protest and called for "urgent action" against the deportation, urging the public to contact the airport to "show opposition."

"Herding individuals from these hand picked countries onto huge planes for mass deportations every month needs to stop," The Unity Center said in a statement. "Many individuals have ongoing immigration cases, many cannot afford to pay the huge legal fees to regularize their stay and most have families, children, partners and strong ties to the U.K."

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