The Bishop of Bradford made a stinging attack on the immigration system during his Christmas speech.

Speaking at special carol service at Bradford Cathedral last night, the Right Reverend David James accused the UK border agency of a catalogue of failings.

Addressing a congregation of church members, asylum communities and supporters, he said: “I hear of the Immigration Service and police coming at 6am to take a family with young children to a detention centre, of immigration judges who will not believe as a matter of policy that a conversion to Christianity can be both genuine and in some countries life threatening.

“I hear of unsympathetic translators at tribunals and inadequate legal support.

“I hear of people going hungry. In Britain.

“The Immigration Service does accept those appeals for refugee status from people fleeing from certain well-established trouble spots but has an almost total lack of appreciation of the religious, racial and cultural complexities in many other regions of the world from which people are escaping.

“Jesus was a refugee. He had to flee with his parents from Bethlehem and seek sanctuary in Egypt, and in the last three years of his life had no home to call his own.”

The Bishop said Bradford has about 500 asylum seekers, and another 300 on Section 4 support, which means their claim for asylum has failed but they cannot go back to their country of origin.

He said he hoped to see Bradford become a City of Sanctuary, part of a national project offering safe places for refugees and asylum seekers.

He said: “I am proud to live in Bradford, in a district and a diocese that has over the last 200 years welcomed incomers from all over the world.

“The Diocese of Bradford recognised the contribution of asylum seekers and refugees to the city and is committed to welcoming and including them in our activities.

“We support Bradford becoming a recognised City of Sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers.”

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said: “I am proud of this Government’s commitment to providing sanctuary to individuals from across the world fleeing war and persecution.

“The UK has provided protection to many thousands of refugees and I believe we have one of the fairest asylum systems in the world.

“The UK border agency works hard to ensure that those seeking asylum are treated with dignity and respect, and I commend their professionalism and their commitment.”