Eboka Family fights on
Emmanuel Eboka and his family continue to campaign against deportation
to Nigeria. His uncle brought Emmanuel to London when he was 14
and then abandoned him. He has now been here for over ten years
and, four years ago, he met and married Sandra, a UK national from
South London. They have two young children Theresa and Fiona.
Emmanuel was called for an interview by immigration officers at
Becket House, London Bridge on 17th June. Fearing that he would
be detained the Eboka Familys supporters organised a protest outside
while Emmanuel was being interviewed. Thankfully he was allowed
to go home after he had answered their questions.
The Nigerian High Commission in London has pointed out that Emmanuel
has no documents proving that he is of Nigerian origin and so they
would not necessarily accept him as one of their citizens if he
were deported from the UK.
Emmanuel is now stuck in limbo with the UK government trying to
deport him and the Nigerian government not prepared to accept him
in Nigeria.
All the while he and Sandra and their two children have to live
with the threat of their family being broken up by the Home Office
and forced to live thousands of miles apart.
Contact the Eboka Family Campaign
on 0171 740 3255.
Let Sofia Stay
Sofia Pleskun came to the UK in February 1996 to visit her uncle.
She met Wasyl, who has lived in this country for more than 50 years,
and they eventually married in August 1996.
An application was made to the Home Office for Sofia to remain in
the UK on the basis of her marriage. Wasyl who is now 79 has always
been in full time employment and the couple have not been reliant
on public funds.
Whilst the application was being considered, Sofia began to expedite
the prospect of obtaining employment for herself in anticipation
of being granted permission for permanent residence on the grounds
of her marriage to Wasyl. Knowing that her inability to speak English
would limit her employment opportunities, she accepted a chance
to train as a machine operative at a local factory when the Immigration
Service raided the premises and arrested her.
She was interviewed at Bootle Street police station, and the Immigration
Service treated her as an illegal entrant.
The Home Office want to remove Sofia to the Ukraine. The couple
want to stay together. The Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
is representing the couple. Yvonne Prince said: "Sofia and
Wasyl met by chance. However this is a genuine relationship, and
the marriage is subsisting. I believe that the illegal entry charges
are unfounded, because Sofia did not understand the consequences
of the interview." You can write to the:
Let Sofia Stay Campaign
c/o Greater manchester Immigration Aid Unit
400 Cheetham Hill Rd
Manchester M8 9LE
Lal Mohammed Must stay
Students at Rokeby School in East London are campaigning to stop
the deportation of schoolmate, Lal mohammed to Tanzania.
More details can be obtained form George Fuller, Rokeby School,
Pitchford Street, London E13 4RZ |
