Mother going through political persecution who has lived in UK for 16 years to be deported to the Gambia | EUROtoday

A mom who has lived within the UK for 16 years has been informed she will probably be deported subsequent month to her native African nation, regardless of the specter of her going through political persecution.

Fatou Tamba, 55, was detained by immigration officers in Liverpool on 26 March, and has been held for the final month at Derwentside IRC, the place she claims to have been refused applicable medical care and psychological well being assist.

Her deportation to the Gambia, initially set for 22 April, was efficiently halted – however she stays in detention, and her lawyer has now been served with a brand new removing date of 8 May.

Her brother Lamin Tamba, a British citizen, mentioned: “Fatou and I have received death threats for our political views.

“If she is returned, she risks kidnapping, false imprisonment, or death. She has a family, a fiance, and a whole community who love her – she belongs here.”

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Ms Tamba travelled to the UK in 2009 to go to her brother, deciding to stay because of the risks posed by returning to the Gambia. Members of her household had been concerned in political activism, and a change within the ruling occasion had led her to obtain dying threats.

She was additionally escaping an abusive marriage, having been married on the age of 14 to a person who was 30 years her senior. As a baby bride, she had given delivery to her son on the age of 15.

After a number of years of dwelling in Birmingham, she relocated to Liverpool, the place she has resided for the final eight years, and has turn out to be an lively member of the refugee and asylum seeker group.

Despite making use of for her proper to stay, Ms Tamba’s asylum software was rejected in 2021, and she or he was required to report back to an immigration workplace every month till she was granted depart to submit one other request.

It was throughout one in every of these visits that she was detained by officers, regardless of by no means lacking a single appointment during the last 4 years.

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Her brother informed The Independent that since being held at Derwentside IRC, a female-only facility that may maintain 84 ladies, Fatou’s psychological well being has plummeted, and she or he has been served poor high quality meals reminiscent of plain rice with no sauce or accompanying dish.

“It’s horrible. I went to see her last Sunday, and the centre is not nice at all,” Mr Tamba mentioned. “She’s lost two teeth since being in detention. They refused additional dental check-ups after they extracted two teeth.

“When she requested GP assistance for her medical conditions, it was refused. After our campaign organised a protest, they finally started granting her requests,” he added.

A spokesperson for Serco, the corporate that manages the Derwentside facility, mentioned that Ms Tamba is obtainable a various menu with cold and hot meals decisions, and has each day entry to the healthcare centre.

Having by no means fallen foul of the legislation, Mr Tamba mentioned his sister was discovering the expertise “difficult and traumatic”.

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“The detention is worse than the removal notice because she’s never lost her freedom before. She’s not eating well, she’s not coping well and she has medical conditions that need regular supervision,” he mentioned.

While in detention, she has submitted one other software for a household visa, offering proof that she has lived along with her companion for greater than two years, and that her closest members of the family reside within the UK.

Despite her household claiming that she met the related standards, her software was as soon as once more rejected, along with her lawyer knowledgeable on April 24 that her deportation will now happen in two weeks. Her authorized group is difficult this.

“Being in Liverpool means everything, it’s the only city where she’s felt at home,” Mr Tamba mentioned. “The people of Liverpool have welcomed her. Because of her infectious personality, she was able to integrate and is now part of the community.”

Maggy Moyo, campaigns lead and group organiser at Right to Remain, mentioned: “Fatou’s fight is not over. She is still behind bars, still waiting for justice. We’ve stopped her deportation for now, but she should not be locked away at all. Fatou has given so much to our community. Now, we stand up for her.”

The Home Office has been approached for remark.