It is hard to allow yourself the space and the time to think about what will happen if you are deported. It is hard for both the person facing deportation and supporters/campaigners, because it can feel like admitting defeat before the fight is over. But some people may find it helpful to think through what might happen, and what they can do to prepare themselves.
The first step is to acknowledge that the campaign may not work and you may be deported. This can be a very scary thought, but having thought it through beforehand may mean you are better able to cope with the difficulties you may face after being deported.
One of the most difficult aspects of fear is not feeling in control. Some people find it helpful to think through exactly what is scaring them (so for example, taking the thought ‘I am scared of being deported’ and identifying exactly what you think will happen and what scares you about that). It can be useful to make clear in your head the things you can do something about, and plan for, and the things you have no influence over and so need to try and let go of. Some people feel better after telling someone else, or writing down, upsetting or fearful thoughts, as keeping these thoughts inside can be very stressful.
Think about coping mechanisms – you’ve already been through a lot, and have survived, so you have good emotional resources to draw on. What techniques did you use before to cope? Who can you turn to? What can you do to relieve the emotional pressure of this time, and allow your mind – at least for a short period – to think of other things?
Some people find some of the following activities helpful:
If you are supporting someone facing deportation or are part of a campaign group, have you thought about what you would do if your friend is deported? It is common to experience an emotional low after the highly pressured campaigning period – how will you get through this? It is useful to have support networks in place (maybe you are an individual supporter or campaigner, but you have a group meeting to talk through the campaign, what you learned, and how you felt). It is likely that you will become involved in another campaign – what support mechanisms can you create to look after yourself emotionally, and the person you are supporting, through what may be a long campaign?
After an unsuccessful campaign, it may be helpful to allow yourself a little time to think through what has happened and feel sad or angry about it. Some people find getting straight into a new campaign more helpful – but make sure you have the stamina to do this, and are not going to burn out. Not looking after yourself will not help you, or the person you are fighting for: anti-deportation campaigning is a long fight. It can be beneficial to share what you’ve learned and how you felt by writing about it – other individuals, and campaign groups might like to hear your experiences – and it may be useful to raise public awareness about the injustices of the asylum and immigration systems.
It may be helpful to think through some basic questions:
It’s very common to lose touch with someone after they have been deported. But if you can keep in touch, do! As well as the obvious importance of finding out how a friend is, knowing what happens after someone is removed is crucial for fighting future campaigns.
TESTIMONY
Catherine Gladwell of the Refugee Support Network, which supports young asylum seekers and refugees in London and abroad, says this about keeping in touch after someone has been deported:
Doing all you can to keep in touch with someone who has been removed is really important! We have found that email is generally the best way to do this, but occasionally it is also possible to speak by telephone or Skype. Being in touch with someone from the UK can provide significant emotional support – young people removed to Afghanistan have told us that it helped to have someone from the UK to talk to. Sometimes it is also possible to provide practical support, such as useful addresses and contacts. Finally, simply documenting the story of what happens to the person you have been supporting once they are removed helps to create a much needed evidence base of life post-removal.
At RSN we are currently collecting these stories, so please do get in touch if you have a story that can be shared.
If you are in touch with a friend who has been deported, keep a record of contact. UKBA will always claim they only deport people who are not in need of protection. It’s really important that we challenge this, as we know this is not always the case. Justice First has collated this evidence in a report - Unsafe Return - about what happens to people returned to DR Congo. Evidence and reports like this can be used to counter country guidance that says it’s safe to return refused asylum seekers to certain countries.
Fahamu Refugee Programme is trying to build a global coalition of groups working against deportation that can share information about what happens when someone is deported to or from their country, and that can provide support to each other. See the website here.
There may be legal options once you’re deported. If your asylum claim was certified, you have the right to appeal out of the UK. Your legal advisor in the UK may be able to continue to fight your case. You should speak to your legal advisor before you are deported to see if they are able to do anything after deportation.