General Chat

took an overdose at Yarl's Wood detention centre, she is now in hospital. On the news they said they didn't consider her a risk to herself, but this was the local news report on Saturday. I feel so sad for her. She was reporting as she should and to be arrested and taken away just like that, with no warning, is an appalling way to treat her. She was doing what she was told to do, and could at least have been given a chance to see her family again before being shunted off to that awful place.

How can the powers that be consider sending her away when she has a family here to help her and is trying to better herself and live a productive and secure life.
I hope things turn round for her and she is allowed to stay. When you think of the people who take the country for all it has, this poor young woman deserves a better chance.

Lizx





Norwich woman's bid to fight deportation
DAVID BALE

Last updated: 15/05/2010 16:00:00


The family of Roselyn Mujuranji are concerned about their neice who faces deportation
A young Zimbabwean woman who was granted a reprieve against deportation last year thanks to help from the Evening News is facing a new battle to stay in the UK.

Roselyn Mujaranji, 24, has been living with her relatives in Bowthorpe since she was saved from deportation last August, after her predicament was highlighted by the Evening News.

But during a routine visit to sign on at Bethel Street police station in Norwich on Wednesday, she was detained and is now awaiting deportation at Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire. The UK Border Agency says she has no grounds to remain in the UK.

The young woman fled Zimbabwe in March last year after she was tortured and her mother was killed by supporters of Robert Mugabe's ruling party.

She took the first flight she could get out of the country and arrived in Norwich from Germany.

But in August last year, her appeal for a judicial review to remain in the country as an asylum seeker failed and she was taken to Yarl's Wood.

The UK Border Agency said that as Germany was the first safe country she arrived at, she should return there to seek asylum.

But campaigners appealed against her deportation on the grounds that she was in ill-health and a medical assessment had not been carried out, and she returned to live with uncle Ignatius Chihata and aunt Christine Mujaranji Chihata in Three Score, Bowthorpe.

Her aunt said today: “Obviously we are worried. We have not heard what is happening and we are trying to speak to her at Yarl's Wood.”

Amanda Hopkinson, chairman of the Norwich Justice and Peace Group, who has campaigned for Roselyn to remain in the UK, said: “It's a desperate situation. I cannot believe what has happened and why the UK Border Agency is acting this way. It's ridiculous and very dangerous behaviour as Roselyn has been rated as a suicidal risk by a psychologist.

“Ironically, she cycled to Bethel Street police station and it was the first time she had used her new bike, which is still chained up outside.

“Roselyn belongs to Norwich. She has started a course on biology at City College Norwich and she has really come out of herself. When she was detained she was deeply distressed. She was taken away in cuffs which she was very upset by.”

She said that Roselyn's solicitor should be informed 72 hours before she is due to be deported.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “Asylum seekers are expected to make a claim in the first safe country they reach. The representations which postponed Miss Mujaranji's removal to Germany last year have now been considered and both the UK Border Agency and the independent courts have found that she has no grounds to remain in the UK.”

So they are going to send her to a country whose language she presumably doesnt know, and where she has no relatives, after all she has been through. I have little time for economic migrants, but this seems to me a genuine case for asylum.

Jean, my thoughts too, people had been campaigning a while back for her to be allowed to stay and I assumed she had permission altho she had to keep attending the police station to 'sign in'
It makes me mad that the authorities pick on the people who are easy to get hold of whereas there are many many asylum seekers who have no claim to live here and they get away with it. This poor girl was following the rules set out for her, and still got arrested, just like that. Who suddenly decided she should be deported to Germany after all, at the drop of a hat almost. Surely it would have been right and proper to contact her lawyer, as they must already have the contact details, and tell them what was about to happen so that she could at least have had relatives with her to know what was happening and to help her adjust to the detention. It doesn't sound as if she would have fled, or hidden, with a college course all set up etc.

There was another example on tv last evening of a young man born here in UK and never left the country, as soon as he applied for a passport to go on holiday, he was told he is an illegal immigrant as his mother didn't have British nationality at the time of his birth altho she has now! He has been told he has to pay £700+ and pass the test for citizenship to become 'legal'
His local MP or someone similar is going to contact the Home Office on his behalf.
Apparently he slipped through a loophole in the system.
Must have been a heck of a shock for him poor lad. At least the holiday company are going to allow him and his girlfriend to rebook their holiday when things are sorted out so they don't lose their money.

Lizx

Good luck to them both, here's hoping the powers that be see sense eh?!

Worlds gone mad!

Nanna-M

You are so right, there are so many really illegal immigrants who set up brothels, drug trafficking and all sorts of things that are detrimental to all, yet these two young people just need a chance, especially the girl, Roselyn. Surely she has gone through enough trauma in her young life.

Lizx

this is the latest info I could find:

Amanda Hopkinson, chairwoman of the Norwich Justice and Peace Group, who has campaigned for Roselyn to remain in the UK, said Roselyn called her to tell her she had taken an overdose in a “cry for help”.

She said: “She phoned me on Sunday after having just taken the overdose. I tried to get as much information as I could but she fell unconscious as I was speaking to her.

“What we do know is everything she took she didn't bring with her. She stockpiled four days worth of painkillers and took them together. I find it absolutely astonishing that no-one at Yarl's Wood couldn't find anything wrong with her.”

Mrs Hopkinson called Yarl's Wood to inform them of the situation and a health team went to assess the young detainee before she was taken to Bedford hospital where she still remains. No-one from the hospital was available for comment.

She added: “She's still not well enough to go back. There's a building campaign now to request Theresa May to order her release home at the first opportunity.”

What a shame you haven't the milk of human kindness, Peter, each case is different and this young woman only has her relatives here. Would you have her sent to live in Germany alone, vulnerable and unable to speak the language. I hope people treat you better than that.

Liz

Yes - the same as I would send Afghans found in lorries at Dover back to Calais - when they can't speak French. It's not a matter of kindness - if you are illegal you go - no exceptions, no delays. They know the rules - if detected - out!

Peter

She must have been well off to pay for a flight to Germany and then again transport to Norwich. How did she manage to get into the country then?

Maybe the border control have checked up on her story re her mother etc and found it untrue. I'm NOT saying that it is but there must be a reason for the detention.

We must remember there are two sides to every story and a sad story is not always gospel.
Just my opinion.

Well what is your take on today's story of a would be bomber who has been granted permission to stay in this country.... BECAUSE.... he would be tortured if he were sent back to Pakistan?

just a question!
Deanna X

When it comes to terrorists my preferred option is a firing squad.
If a convicted terrorist is sent back and faces torture....do I care?

Peter

The sixth message on this thread has been "deleted by the poster or an administrator". As the poster I assure you that I didn't delete it, so I can only assume that it upset someone so much that they "reported" it. It would be nice to know which bit you objected to - I give you the option. I said 1. There are two sorts of immigrant, legal annd illegal. 2. Illegal immigrants should be sent straight back where they came from by the fastest available means. 3. Worldwide they try self harm to get bleeding heart liberals to support them and 4. Once they get in the send for their extended families.

Which do you take exception to?

I think I can justify every one of those statements with evidence which is freely available. Sorry if you don't agree but please debate the subject, don't hide behind the administration.

Peter

Well it was not me... I would need a VERY good reason to report someone on here.

But when it comes to immigrants... What exactly would you describe as
*a legal immigrant*?

To me it describes someone in need of sanctuary, for whatever reason.

Deanna X

I have a reply from the person in question - she finds the term bleeding heart liberal offensive - if so I apologise. I am not unsympathetic normally, but there are too many examples of someone taking an overdose and immediately ringing someone to say they have done it. My view is that this is often a way of manipulating the system. Disagree if you will.

A legal immigrant is someone who applies for and is granted a visa/permit to enter, live and work in a country. An illegal immigrant is someone who is there without a legal right to be there. Although English I live overseas - I have a residence permit in my passport - therefore I am legal.
Peter

Oh boy..... it must be wonderful to be so RIGHT all the time.
Have you ever thought that... "there but for the grace of god (whichever god you think of) go I "?
Deanna X

She came here to be with loved ones which I too would want to do if I had been been tortured and seen my mother murdered. She is only young after all and maybe she had money, to be tortured or treated badly doesn't necessarily mean you have to be without money. After the cruel treatment she received and witnessed her mental health is very fragile too, whose wouldn't be? Maybe someone helped her with the money, maybe her relatives sent her money, she just took the opportunity to get away to whereever she could at the time. Also she cannot speak German so it makes more sense to be with relatives and somewhere she can make herself understood and integrate more easily. I am sure I saw last year when this first came to light that her family work and helped her.
As Deanna said, there but for the grace of God go any of us.

I don't know who Peter is, haven't noticed him posting before, but I do hope he doesn't find himself in a difficult situation and having to face it alone, the same goes for the others who agree with him.

Liz

Oh and a deleted post can sometimes be because the poster has accidentally posted the same reply twice, happens with these jumpy boards.

I did of course mean..... 'illegal ' asylum seekers should be helped.
Excuse my stupidity...
Deanna X