Members of the Windrush generation, their families and supporters have been joined by the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, at a rally outside Downing Street. The demonstration on Whitehall, which called for the end of the “hostile environment” deportation policy, was organised by campaign group Stand Up to Racism.

Q&A What are enforced departures? Show Hide There are three layers of state-enforced or enforceable departures of immigrants from the UK: deportations, administrative removals and voluntary departures. Deportations apply to people and their children whose removal is deemed 'conducive to the public good' by the home secretary. They can also be recommended by a court.

Administrative removals refer to cases involving the enforced removal of non-citizens who have either entered the country illegally, outstayed a visa, or violated the conditions of their leave to remain. Voluntary departures are people against whom enforced removal has been initiated; the term 'voluntary' simply describes how they leave. There are three sub-categories: a) Those who depart via assisted voluntary return schemes.

b) Those who make their own travel arrangements and tell the authorities. c) Those who leave without notifying the government.

Demonstrators, including women who spent months detained in Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre, held placards that said “Solidarity with the Windrush generation” as some chanted that Theresa May should be deported. Demonstrations were also held in Birmingham and Coventry city centres.

In London, Abbott pointed out that she was the first person to call for former home secretary Amber Rudd’s resignation. But she told the crowd of around 150 people: “When it comes to the Windrush scandal, all roads lead back to Theresa May.”

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Abbott said it was the prime minister who brought in the hostile environment policy. Asked if she thought the government was doing enough to rectify the injustices done, she said: “We will judge them by what they actually do.”

Among the demonstrators was Weyman Bennett, 52, from Tottenham in North London, whose family travelled from Jamaica to Britain between 1958 and 1966. His mother came to work in the NHS and his father served in the British army.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A Windrush rights protestor with a defiant message for Theresa May, the prime minister. Photograph: Matthew Chattle/Rex/Shutterstock

Bennett said he believed the Windrush generation had been “betrayed”: “Amber Rudd took the blame, but I believe that Theresa May is responsible for it, and she should go. I honestly think that she’s responsible for the inhuman treatment of people.

“I’m talking about grandmothers kissing goodbye to their children,” he said. “I hope that Theresa May is held accountable for what she did, because the people’s voices have to be heard.”

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At the rally in Birmingham, people could be heard shouting, “England is our home” and, “Who built these streets? Our parents did.”

Desmond Jaddoo, who organised the event, told Birmingham Live: “Families are still being affected by this, and a more strategic and extensive plan of action is needed from the government in order to address the major inequality and injustice this has created.”

“In a year when we will be celebrating 70 years since the Windrush came to the UK, with British citizens who were invited to this country, to help rebuild Britain into what it is today, this is a slap in the face for them,” he said. He added that this is “not how things should be in 2018 Britain”.