15 February 2014

“We love Flora,” said Stephen Rippon, the chair of the meeting in support of Flora attended by community groups in Hull last night, and that was the theme throughout the meeting. Speaker after speaker told of her personal qualities and commitment to the community. The meeting, held in Princes Avenue Methodist Church, took the form of a prayer meeting, and was organised by Hull Open Doors Project, which supports asylum seekers and refugees as well as other immigrant workers. At the end of the meeting, the following petition was signed by everybody:

“We, the undersigned, gathered at a meeting of community groups in Hull on 14 February 2014, ask Home Secretary Theresa May to release Flora Wanyu Yennyuy from detention at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Detention Centre and to grant her indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

“Flora came to the UK in 2007 to do a Master’s Degree at the University of Hull, and she was awarded an MSc in Environmental Technology in 2010. She was granted a work visa, but when the relationship on which it was based broke down due to domestic violence against her, the work visa was cancelled. She is now in detention for a second time, awaiting deportation on 3 March.

“Flora has been consistently in employment, paid her taxes, and has not claimed state benefits. She has also become an integral part of the community in the churches she attends, as well as at the Open Doors Project and other community groups in Hull. She was also a trustee at the Mental Health Action Group charity.

“We believe that it is unjust for her to be detained and it would be unjust to deport her. She should be released from Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre and granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK so that she can continue to work and contribute to society as she has been doing in Hull since her arrival.”

I posted the petition to Theresa May today, accompanied by the following covering letter:

“Dear Mrs May,

“I am writing concerning the immigration case of Flora Wanyu Yennyuy.

“At a meeting of local community groups and friends of Flora at Princes Avenue Methodist Church last night, called to support Flora Wanyu Yennyuy and her right to stay in the UK, concern was expressed at her detention at Yarl’s Wood IRC and at the government’s stated intention to deport her on 3 March. We do not believe this decision to be just.

“During the meeting, Flora’s work and dedication to the local community in Hull was reiterated and celebrated and at the end of the meeting we all signed the enclosed petition.

“We know that you have received a number of representations on Flora’s behalf and we add this one in the hope that you will, after considering all the facts in her case, order her release from detention and grant her leave to remain in the UK …”

And now, of course, we wait.

If you haven’t already signed Flora’s online petition, please do so here:

https://www.change.org/petitions/theresa-may-secretary-of-state-release-wanyu-flora-yennyuy-from-detention