[Name removed] first submitted an asylum application about June 2003. It took the Home Office three years to inform her that the application was invalid. She was then instructed to report to Croydon for an interview in 2006. [Name removed] engaged another lawyer. She appeared in Croydon for screenings and then for an interview with her lawyer in Liverpool in August 2006. She was told to report to the police every month until a decision had been made on her application. [Name removed] reported diligently to the police station in her area every month.

When she went to report at the police station on Wednesday 4 April 2007 she was arrested. It was explained to her that the Home Office had refused her application two weeks after her interview in Liverpool in August 2006. [Name removed] and her lawyer were never notified of this until she reported to the police station for her April visit. The refusal decision letter ([name removed] was never given the right to appeal this decision) that [name removed] was given is dated 16/08/06 but was faxed to the Bristol Immigration Department on 08/02/07.

[Name removed] was kept in custody from Wednesday morning until Thursday after midnight. She wasn't allowed to make many phone calls, it was incredibly difficult to be able to speak to her, in fact virtually impossible at times. [Name removed] was never given items that were left for her by friends such as a change of clothes and toiletries.

She says she was shaken awake in the early hours of Friday morning by immigration officers who told her to get up and literally within minutes she was bundled into a van. She says that she asked where she was being taken to and they said they didn't know. They did however notify [name removed] that she is to be deported on Thursday 12 April at 8:00pm on Kenya Airways Flight KQ101.

At about 4:00am [name removed] was delivered to Yarl's Wood Detention Centre.

Her friends struggled to find out where she was as the police and immigration office wouldn't say. Eventually they found out she was at Yarl's Wood and that she could call them if she wished to. But in order for her to call anyone she had to pay a deposit of £17 to rent a mobile phone.

Though [name removed] came to the UK from Swaziland the Home Office intend to return her to Kenya. Where [name removed] fears persecution from the authorities because of the nationality of her late husband.

[Name removed] has spent the last 17 years of her life away from Kenya. She has established a life outside Kenya and it will be difficult for her to start rebuilding her life especially in such difficult circumstances since she has nothing to return to.

Friends of [name removed] in Bristol have set up a campaign to keep her in the UK.

What you can do to Help:
1. Fax Liam Byrne MP, Minister for State for Nationality, Citizenship & Immigration using the model fax '[name removed].doc' attached asking that [name removed] is allowed to remain in the UK. You can copy, amend or write your own version - please quote her Home Office Reference: [removed]

Fax: 0207 035 4745 (from outside the UK + 44 20 7035 4745)

2. Contact Kenya Airways and urge them not to carry out the forced removal of [name removed] - you can use the model fax '[name removed].doc' attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version - please quote Kenya Airways flight KQ101 from Heathrow to Nairobi on Thursday 12 April at 8:00pm.

Please copy and faxes sent to:
Friends of [name removed]
Campaign coordinator
Jane Davies
 enajoop@yahoo.com
079 6785 8966

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
Friends of [name removed]