Frank Ospina's Plea to Return Home Ignored as He Tragically Passes Away in UK Detention

The family of a Colombian man, Frank Ospina, who died at a Heathrow immigration removal center, claim that he pleaded for help and was willing to leave the UK voluntarily. Ospina, who had no history of mental health issues, was being detained while awaiting deportation. This incident comes at a time when the British government is taking a tougher stance on migrants, and the BBC has been investigating conditions inside immigration centers. In addition, the BBC has discovered new information about a protest that took place in the days following Ospina's death, during which a group of detainees attempted to harm themselves. These revelations emerge just before the release of a report on abusive behavior by staff at the Brook House facility near Gatwick, which came under scrutiny following an undercover BBC Panorama investigation in 2017. Immigration removal centers are high-security facilities where individuals who have been denied the right to stay in the UK are held, along with foreign nationals awaiting deportation after serving prison sentences. Those who are denied bail remain in detention until they can be deported. Internal documents obtained by human rights journalism unit Liberty Investigates and the charity Medical Justice suggest that detainees are growing increasingly frustrated with the delays in resolving their cases, which is negatively affecting their mental health. Frank Ospina, a 39-year-old Colombian engineering graduate, had come to the UK to visit his mother and explore potential universities. However, he was arrested during an immigration raid and taken to the Heathrow detention center. His mental health deteriorated rapidly after his detention, according to his sister and brother-in-law in Chile. Ospina begged for help, insisting that he felt mentally unwell and needed to be released. During his detention, Ospina's mother visited him and found him struggling to communicate and in a weak mental state. On March 21, he contacted the charity Bail for Immigration Detainees, expressing his willingness to leave the UK voluntarily. Despite this, he was not deported and was instead placed under constant watch in a cell at the Colnbrook Immigration Removal Center. His family received the devastating news of his death on March 25, with his mother later being informed that this was his second suicide attempt. The family claims that Ospina was put under pressure to stay in detention, even though he was willing to pay for his own ticket to leave. The Home Office expressed condolences to the family and stated that any death in immigration detention is subject to investigation. Following Ospina's death, detainees at Heathrow were informed of the tragedy, which sparked a protest a few days later. Internal statements from custody officers describe how several detainees simultaneously attempted suicide or engaged in protest actions, such as trying to scale barriers. However, according to the firm contracted by the Home Office to operate the center, no detainees were able to harm themselves. A former detainee, speaking anonymously, attributed the unrest in immigration centers to the chaotic nature of the removal system. He mentioned that those who wish to leave the UK are not provided with tickets, while those who do not wish to leave are being deported. There is concern among immigration charities that the situation will worsen as the government aims to control immigration into the UK. Medical Justice, a charity that conducts medical examinations on detainees and advocates for their release, has been warning for years that vulnerable individuals in detention are experiencing mental health deterioration due to the prison-like atmosphere and the indefinite nature of detention. They have reported cases where detainees were restrained for extended periods, even while going to pick up food. The Home Office has required staff to file reports under detention center Rule 35 for detainees who are mentally affected, have suicidal intentions, or have experienced torture. However, Medical Justice claims that only a small number of cases reviewed received these reports. An inquest will examine the circumstances of Frank Ospina's death, and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is conducting an investigation as well. The government has acknowledged the increased demand for healthcare at Heathrow and is increasing the number of healthcare professionals employed there. The Brook House Inquiry is expected to release a report on the state of detention centers on September 19. If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed, support organizations can be found on the BBC Action Line website.