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Flora’s story IV
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:
Flora’s story III
The developments in Flora’s case come thick and fast, but make no sense. On 28 January the Home Office informed Flora’s legal adviser that her biometric data had to be taken and noted that her case was complicated because of human rights issues. On the face of it, this admission of human rights complications might have been a cause for hope. However, on 29 January, the Home Office wrote that her application for leave to remain had failed and that she had until 12 February to arrange her departure. This seemed to ignore, not only the previous letter, but also the fact that she was already detained at Yarl’s Wood.
Next, the 12 February deadline was also ignored, as the first attempt to deport Flora was made at Yarl’s Wood, also on 29 January. The attempt foundered because Flora had not been given the required 72 hours’ notice of deportation.
On 2 February, an officer from the security firm Serco informed Flora that a flight had been booked for her for the following day, 3 Feb. The officer asked her if she was “comfortable” about going to “administration” to talk to them about it. She replied that she again hadn’t been given the 72 hours’ notice, and refused to go. 2 hours later two male Serco officers came to her room and made the same request. She refused.
3 February came and went. Flora still has no idea what will happen next. Flora is depressed and on medication as a result of her experience of domestic violence which triggered this series of events. After speaking to her on the phone, her partner Keith says: “I am now concerned that her mental health may be affected by her detention as she sounds as though she is becoming more depressed.”
Flora should be released from detention immediately. If you have not already signed the petition (https://www.change.org/petitions/theresa-may-secretary-of-state-release-wanyu-flora-yennyuy-from-detention) please do so. It would also be helpful, considering Flora’s urgent need to get out of Yarl’s Wood, if you could also email Home Secretary Theresa May (mayt@parliament.uk) and Immigration Minister Mark Harper: (ministerforimmigration@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk)
Flora’s story II
You may remember Flora (I told her story in a previous blog: https://bobmouncerblog.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/floras-story/ )
Flora was recently refused the right to another appeal because she couldn’t pay the application fee of £587. She was then arrested and is now in Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre. However, her friends managed to raise the money to pay for the application and so her solicitor was able to lodge it a few days ago. Nevertheless, today (29/1/2014) the UK Border Agency attempted to deport her. The deportation failed, but I don’t yet know the reason for the failure. Whatever the details, we are relieved she is still here.
But she should not be in detention. She has done nothing wrong. She has an appeal duly lodged with the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. Will you please sign the following petition to Home Secretary Theresa May, demanding her release.
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