Month: March 2017
They are taking us, the flight is tonight.
We have friends in Brook House, they are preparing them to go on the flight tonight but they don’t know what time or from where. No one has said anything to anyone Colnbrook. We heard from someone in Brook House. They are taking us, the flight is tonight.
They are forcing us. On Tuesday the guy had me by my neck, pushing me pushing me. They took us at night, we have no idea where they re taking us. We were all terrified. Even if you want to go to the toilet on the coach someone goes with you. You spend your pennies and the guy can see your pennies. We are not children, we are not animals.
For me they didn’t even give me removal directions. No official removal directions – we got the 10 days notice. I put in a Judicial Review to cancel my ticket but I’ve been told they can’t cancel the flight without removal directions.
The Home Offce said i have no grounds to remain in UK. I have fiancé, we have been together for three years and I am a father to a child. I was released on the fact there is a child involved. The Home Office don’t care. The Home Office want to overlook this. I haven’t done anything wrong. Some of us have wives here, have children. We don’t want to leave our loved ones.
Last week this guy said he wouldn’t go. Two commanders came, one commander used his elbow in the guys back and he fell to the floor. They other put something in his arm. They came at night and they took him. They took him back to his country. He was shouting shouting and because of the injection he went unconscious and they took him like that. Why would you be wearing masks? They were wearing masks so you didn’t know who they were.
Write it down – I am telling the truth. They don’t want the world to hear it thats why they are doing it in secret. We need you to do something today as well. Some of us are not ready to go. We have wives here, we have children.
You guys outside need to do something for us, you need to help us.
I think they are arranging a sudden collection of people tonight.
I’ve been in detention for 3 weeks. On Tuesday I was supposed to be on that charter flight. They didn’t contact me until very late and they locked me in doors. And then they told me I wasn’t on the flight.
Today, they have given me a letter saying that within ten days they are going to deport me to Lagos, Nigeria
I have 4 children with EU passports. They go school in the UK. My Wife is an EEA citizen living and working in the UK. We’ve lived in the UK for 10 years this September.
I think they are arranging a sudden collection of people tonight. They have sent me to G wing – someone told me that this was about the secret flight tonight.
They told my wife to see the MP and get a letter. She doesn’t know the MP and she doesn’t know what to do. How do they expect her to contact the MP immediately. She’s picking up the children from school.
they’ve said they can come back and removed us any time in the next ten days
They were about to take us back to Nigeria on Tuesday. They had a charter a charter flight. On that Tuesday, I don’t know what happened. Something happened – people went there and said people weren’t going to be deported.
And they had to bring them back to Harmondsworth.
And today, they’ve said they can come back and removed us any time in the next ten days. And the guys who I saw there on Tuesday, they were our escorts on the coach sitting beside us. I saw them coming in now. I didn’t see the coaches. I but the people who were escorting us.
I’m feeling bad because I don’t want to go, I don’t want to go. They have called each one of us and it can happen any time.
People must stand up against injustice. We are very proud of the protesters.
I seek asylum in 2013, my asylum got refused. I spent 5 months in Harmondsworth detention centre then I was released. I was signing for 3 years at the immigration reporting centre, then they detained me in Scotland. Then they release me, then I was detained again and they gave me removal directions for Ghana.
I am from Ivory Coast not Ghana. I told the Home Office I’m not Ghanaian. The Home Office told me I could take a bus from Ghana to the Ivory Coast. They said they cannot take me to Ivory Coast so I must go Ghana.
The doctor in the detention centre made a Rule 35 report that said I have been tortured in ivory coast but they did not release me from detention.
I am part of a church in Manchester, they found me a lawyer. My lawyer sent faxes to the detention centre to stop my deportation, but the guards did not give it to me. I did not get the documents from my lawyer until this morning.
I want the church to not close their eyes to us. Justice is from the bible. The church must not close its eyes to injustice. I am sending a message to the entire church- they cannot let injustice go on like this. The word of god is about justice and righteousness. The church cannot keep its eyes closed in the face of injustice. Closing your eyes to injustice is being part of injustice. Christ died for justice and righteousness. The church needs to stand up like to protesters- they need to tell the world what is going on.
Last night, they called me from my cell, to say I am going on the flight. They took all of my stuff. They searched me, they take my belongings, they wouldn’t give my stuff back to me. They said I could have my stuff when I get to Ghana. I have it back now. Some people on the bus just have a little plastic bag- how can you be deported with just a plastic bag?
They took us to the bus. I had 1 guard beside me. They tell me we are going to another airport- I didn’t know where. After more than 1 hour drive we arrived. They said we have a “little problem”, we did not know what was going on. Eventually they said the flight had been cancelled. I couldn’t see them but we heard there was a demonstration. Police were all around. I did not know what was going on.
When something is wrong people have to stand up. The problem is with the Home Office. No-one checks on them, they have absolute power over peoples lives. They do whatever they want. People must stand up against injustice. We are very proud of the protesters. We hope they are treated well. They did the right thing.
At about 1.30am they told us the flight had been cancelled.
I have been in the UK since 2010. In 2015 I claimed asylum, they asked me to sign at the immigration centre every week, later this was changed to once a month. I have done this until 2016, when I had an interview in Croydon. They refused my asylum, but the last thing the Home Office said to me, is that they would not take me away from the UK. In February 2017, I was at home, I heard a knock at door, there were ten police officers, and 2 immigration officers. They took me to the police station, and from there to Colnbook detention centre. After 1 month they still did not release me.
I have a 3 month old baby. My baby was in hospital for 1 month when I was in the detention centre. After 1 month, they gave me removal directions to Nigeria for the 28th of March. I contacted my solicitor they sent information about my situation to the Home Office but they ignored it.
If they take me back to Nigeria- what about my 3 month old baby? My partner is HIV positive, she is not working- she has to look after the baby, because of her medical condition, she can not cope without me. She is crying everyday. What happens if I am deported away?
Last night, they called my name around 5pm to get on the coach and go to Stansted airport. Once we got to Stansted, the officer’s told us there was a “small delay”. We couldn’t see the protesters from the coach. On the bus there was 1 guard to each person. You need 2 guards to go with you to toilet on the coach, they come into the toilet with you. There were maybe 30 people were on the coach. The were different coaches from different detention centres. The guards did not tell us what was happening. At about 1.30am they told us the flight had been cancelled. We got back to the detention centre at about 4.30am.
We are very happy about the protesters. Now we want to be released. We are not criminal. I never committed any crime.
If anyone can help us to get released from detention we will be really happy.
I’m not on the Charter Flight tonight- I’m so happy
I was meant to be on that flight. But I’m not. I’m so happy. Thank you everyone. Thank you for the love and support
Now they give me another charter flight ticket, they give me a ticket for 28th now
Already, already going to come say is that if you can come here and see how people are suffering here, me, I’ve been here for the past eight
months now, and I’m not a criminal, I didn’t do anything, I didn’t commit any crime, just overstay. And they delayed me, they detain me for
the past 8 months and I don’t even have even to [inaudible 00:33]. And again, let me tell you this, I HAVE BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE HERE AND THEY ARE BRITISH.
Home Office is now telling me that it’s because I’m overstaying, I’m an adult, I can not depend on my parents any more, I should be on my own, that’s why they detain me. And since then I haven’t committed a crime at all. If you see many old people here, many disabled people they are here, for myself I have been here for the past one year, one year close one year three months, one year four months here.
And I still want to talk about the charter flights, every two months I think, every two months is the charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana. Because I’ve been here, I’VE BEEN LIVING IN UK FOR EIGHT, NINE YEARS I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY BACK HOME. I GOT MY FRIENDS HERE, I GOT MY BROTHERS HERE, I GOT EVERYBODY HERE. And then [inaudible 01:50] is to coming back
to Nigeria. Can you imagine the kind of prison? How can you… What do you want me to [inaudible 02:01] be enough?
So, I’ve been finding things difficult, difficult in here. I don’t have access to anything. Now they give me another charter flight ticket, they
give me a ticket for 28th now, yes 28th, that flight on 28th. THEY SAY THEY WANT TAKE ME BACK TO NIGERIA WHICH I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY.
So things are not been fine for me here, even for most of us here, things are not fine at all and I believe most people don’t know what we
are going through here in detention outside. So if Detained Voices can help to recount to everyone outside to know what we’re facing here,
maybe can be getting better in here. So that’s little I can say for now.. Even know people that can Upper Tribunal, they still have to
deport them.
Last charter flight they give me, it’s like, forced ticket, they will give you forced ticket, every time they give you a ticket. SO MOST PEOPLE GO IN UPPER TRIBUNAL, THEN TO A… SOME IN A HIGH COURT. THEY DON’T EVEN WAIT TO GIVE THE JUDGEMENT, THEY JUST PUT THE PERSON ON THE PLANE AND TAKE THE PERSON BACK HOME. IT IS NOT FAIR.
So just want everybody outside there to know what we’re facing here. WE ARE BLACK, WE ARE AFRICAN, WHAT WE’RE FACING HERE IS TOTALLY WRONG. So I don’t know what maybe government or people can do about that, but I believe Detained Voices will help [inaudible 04:09].
I am here now – my doctor came from Medical Justice, DOCTOR CAME TO SEE ME TO ASSESS ME 3 MONTHS, NO 3 WEEKS AGO, AND DOCTOR CONFIRMED THAT I DID NOT FIT TO FLIGHT, I DIDN’T FIT TO FLY AND I DID NOT FIT TO BE DETAINED HERE AND THE HOME OFFICE WOULDN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Just they ask, I think they don’t care what the doctor is saying and doctor
send every document to me and to Home Office. They didn’t reply, and they still want to force me to back home so *sigh* I’m even devastated now, I don’t know what to do anymore about, I’m not finding things easy at all. Things are getting worse and worse and over and over. So that’s it. I received from many people that going to Detained Voices, many people they are requesting for your number to speak.
So that’s it.
Post-deportation statement: This is my story
This is my story.
I am asylum seeker. I was deported without a decision on my asylum application. I AM ONE OF THE DEPORTEES THAT WAS DEPORTED TO NIGERIA ON 24TH OF JANUARY, 2017.
I am asylum seeker. I claimed asylum in June 9th, 2016. I was housed in [inaudible] in NASS accommodation in October 2016, Home Office house for [inaudible]. I was on benefits, asylum support, £35 weekly. I receive a letter from Home Office that they would carefully consider me as soon as possible, in November 2016. So I should be reporting every 2 weeks in Sheffield Immigration Centre.
I went for reporting every 2 weeks without missing any weeks. On 26th of January 2017 I went for reporting in Sheffield Immigration Reporting Centre. I was detained by Immigration and held at Manchester airport for 2 nights. After 2 nights at Manchester airport I was taken to Harmondsworth detention centre around 11pm.
The next day, on Sunday, when the solicitor and support group were unreachable, I WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR THE CHARTER FLIGHT, SCHEDULED TO LEAVE 2 DAYS LATER, WITHOUT DECISION ON MY ASYLUM APPLICATION. I have only one day to pursue any legal avenue to stop the removal and managed to lodge a judicial review, but they did not allow me to receive the confirmation. I was lock up, not allowed to go out. I wrote a letter to Immigration, I dropped the letter in the complaint box. I explained my situation to them, but no reply.
THE WORST PART IS THE CHARTER FLIGHT. THEY TIE BELT ON MY BODY, THERE WERE 2 PEOPLE TO HOLD ME AND DRAG ME INSIDE THE PLANE. I COULD NOT BREATHE VERY WELL. I’M STILL FEELING THE PAIN NOW. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM THAT I’M NOT FEELING WELL, THEY SHOULD REMOVE THE BELT, BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR WHAT I’M SAYING, THEY SAID THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB.
During the flight I managed to speak to Immigration inside the flight. I explained my situation to Immigration that I have been living in UK since 2007, 10 years now, I claimed asylum June 9, 2016, Home Office know my story, Home Office said they are going to protect me, including my family, under human rights protection, I no decision on my claim yet, my application is under consideration.
And the Immigration [on the plane], asked me this question. One, have you ever been in prison? I replied no. Have you ever commit any crime in the country that was UK? I replied no. Why have you been detained? I said I don’t know why. Why do they want to deport you? I said I don’t know why. They told me, they have computer inside the flight to know everything about me, and he left.
When he come back, I am like an hour later, I reply, you couldn’t find anything? There’s the pieces of paper my caseworker gave to me. He wrote a different story about me and about my application as well, that I have been refused? I did not appear in the court in the country? They are all lies, because I did not receive any letter to confirm that. So Immigration took the piece of paper from me. When we land in Lagos, Immigration told Nigerian Immigration that we are not criminals.
So I’m talking to you now. I don’t have any families in Nigeria any more. All my family has been killed by insurgency terrorist group. My caseworker make a decision to deported me without a decision on my asylum application. [Sigh] He make decision on the 24 – that was January – to deported me on the 31st, without know to me. I don’t have any families in Nigeria any more.
My family has been killed by insurgency terrorist group called Boko Haram in 2005. Our church was burned down including the congregation. All my families was dead. I’m very lucky when I’m in the campus when it happen.
After I left my school campus I was on the road for 2-3 hours running to another state which is Lagos state. When I’m finally in Lagos state I was weeping, crying every day.
After 6 month on the road, sleeping on the street, I met a good Samaritan, that start for me again. I told my story, and he managed to get a visitor visa for me to UK. After arrive UK, the agent took my passport from me, he said for security purpose. He took the passport away. I did not see him again to today.
All the years I spend in UK, I got help from my uncle, my friend, my church, because I’m destitute. I was [inaudible] accommodation from each of them and support for some cash as well. My friend and my church advised me to seek legal advice about my situation. My solicitor make application and send it to Home Office about my situation. And Home Office reply after 3 month that they would protect me including my families under human rights protection.
AS I’M TALKING TO YOU NOW, I’M IN A DIFFICULT MOMENT IN MY LIFE. I AM HOMELESS, MY LIFE IS AT RISK. BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY PROMISE TO KILL ENTIRE GENERATION. I FEAR THE INSURGENCY BECAUSE THE WAY THE TOOK THE LIVES MY PARENTS AND MY FAMILY. THERE IS THREAT OVER MY LIFE, [INAUDIBLE] THE INSURGENCY BOKO HARAM STILL TERRORISE THE COUNTRY TIL NOW. [SIGH]
I’M IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION IN MY LIFE, SO I’M TALKING TO YOU, I’M ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY, NOWHERE TO STAY, NOWHERE TO SLEEP, [SIGH] I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE I CAN START MY LIFE AGAIN.
Thank you, this is end of my story. Bye.
My ex-husband said he knows I am being deported next week. He is waiting for me. He is planning to kill me.
I am in immigration detention. I have been in Yarls Wood, the women’s detention centre since September. I claimed asylum which was refused because of my sexuality. I am a lesbian which is not ok in Nigeria . I appealed, which was also refused. My lawyer has put in a second appeal to the Home office, and I am waiting. I have heard nothing back from them. My sister, who lives in London went to my MP’s office. My MP has called the Home Office but they ignored her. My lawyer is working to help me in my situation. But I have still heard nothing from the Home Office, instead they have given me a deportation ticket for next week.
Last week my friend called from Nigeria, she is looking after my 4 children in Nigeria. My ex husband called her , he is trying to take my children away from her. She has been forced to leave their home with my children. My ex-husband said he knows I am being deported next week. He is waiting for me. He is planning to kill me.
I have been in uk for 6 years. I had to leave Nigeria because I was scared of my husband. I was forced to marry him in an arranged marriage. My husband is trying to kill me, he has reported to the police that I am coming. They are all waiting for me. My lawyer has given me a letter to show to the guards at the airport. It says- I still have case with Home Office, and that my husband will kill me if I am deported.
I don’t want to go on that plane. I can’t go.
I have been living a miserable life since I was born, because I have to hide my sexuality. I cannot be free. I thought in UK I would be able to be lesbian and live free. But now they are trying to deport me to a country where I will not be safe because of my sexuality.
Since I have been in detention two of my children cannot go to school. Because I cannot work and send them, money. I send my children to school, without my husband helping. He doesn’t give them any money. If he kills me- who will I look after my children? They rely on me.
They should give me and my children a life. They should spare my life because of my children. I am begging.
detained voices 