Although *George William and most of his family are now back in Swansea after the familys removal was stayed, they will not be able to look forward to enjoying this Christmas. *[No room at the Inn for George William and Family]

George's older sons, Christopher and Calvin, are now threatened with deportation today, Christmas Eve.

When the family fled from Pakistan in 2004 the older two brothers remained behind and later applied for Student Visas in order to study in the UK

They have been studying IT in the south of England for the last three years. Christopher is in the final year of a Bachelor Degree. Calvin completed a Post Graduate qualification in 2007 and on 3 December was granted a 12-month extension of his visa under the International Graduate Scheme.

The brothers have never claimed asylum and have never been part of the family claim for asylum. During their time in the UK they have lived apart from the family and have built their own lives as students in Slough.

Unfortunately they were present in Swansea on 19 December when Immigration Officers came to the family home and they were also detained. Because they were not listed on the removal directions for the family, the brothers were separated from the family and interviewed by Immigration Officers. During this interview it emerged that the brothers had made an error in their original visa applications by not revealing that the rest of their family was already in the UK. The Home Office are now using this technicality to detain the brothers and to order their removal from the UK.

Christopher and Calvin are guilty of no more than wanting to get the best education for themselves and thereby to get a good start in life. Family and friends in Pakistan have paid all of their fees and expenses. They have never received a penny from the UK. For three years they have studied hard and made good progress with their studies. Calvin has twice renewed his visa without any problems, at a time when the Home Office were well aware of the situation regarding the rest of his family. Christopher is awaiting a response to his application to renew his visa so that he can complete his Bachelor Degree.

If the brothers had not been in Swansea when Immigration came to detain the family, they would not now be in detention. They would still be at liberty and free to continue their studies. They would not be facing forced removal on Christmas Eve and separation from their family over Christmas. They would not be having their studies interrupted with little prospect of being able to continue at a later date. Their family would not be facing the prospect of Christmas without the brothers.

The family are taking legal advice and seeking to challenge the deportation in the courts. In the meantime we need friends and supporters to write to the airline involved and ask them not to carry out the removal.

What you can do to help:
Immediate this Monday morning/Fax/Phone/Email
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Christopher and Calvin. Attached model letter WilliamFamilyQA.doc - you can copy, amend or write your own version. Please include all the details - "forced removal of Christopher and Calvin on Qatar Airways Flight QR0012 From London Heathrow at 14:15hrs today Monday 24th December for Doha and onward to Karachi..

Fax to: 020 8797 5003 - this is the Airport fax number

Phone: 020 8797 5001 or 020 8797 5002

e-mail (both):
 infodesk@qatarairways.com.qa
and
 tell-us@qatarairways.com.qa


Please notify the campaign of any faxes sent:
Friends of Christopher and Calvin
C/o Asylum Justice
YMCA
St Helen's Road
Swansea SA1 5JQ
E-mail:  williamfamily@ntlworld.com

Thank you for your support.

Keith M Ross
Asylum Justice