More than 2,000 under-18s were detained with their families in the UK last year, according to research by Save the Children, the Refugee Council and charity Bail for Immigration Detainees, which this week launched a campaign, No Place for a Child, to raise awareness.
One in three were held for more than a week and some were detained for almost nine months. There are no time limits on how long a young person or child can be held.
Rhona Blackwood, assistant programme director for England at Save the Children, said: "Detention has long-term repercussions for young people."
An early day motion has been tabled in Parliament by Labour MP Neil Gerrard.
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