Star date: 25th November 2016

HOME OFFICE MAKING UNLAWFUL ATTEMPT TO REMOVE DIANNE NGOZA

Dianne Ngoza the Zambian nurse and Manchester anti-destitution campaigner is set to be deported from the UK next Wednesday - despite having an outstanding human rights application pending.

"It is beyond my comprehension that the Home Office are doing this before looking at the evidence in my case" Dianne said from Yarl's Wood detention centre, where she was taken from Dallas Court in Salford last week "I am exceedingly grateful to all the people who are working for me and supporting me, without them I would be lost."

Full details here...

Dianne Ngoza, the Zambian nurse and anti-destitution campaigner who was detained at Dallas Court in Salford last week, despite having an outstanding human rights application pending, is set to be deported next Wednesday.

Dianne, who has lived in the UK for 14 years and has a daughter here, was taken controversially to the Yarl's Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire and has since been treated badly according to friends (for full background see previous Salford Star articles – click here and click here and click here).

A vegan, Dianne has been given mainly fruit to eat and has only had two proper meals. Hannah Bowler, aged 21, from Flixton, Bedfordshire, is a friend of one of Dianne's supporters in Manchester. She visited Dianne in Yarl's Wood last night and said that, although she had never met Dianne before, she looked exhausted and was talking constantly about food.

"She really wants fresh vegetables, fresh food, denying her food and toiletries is completely unacceptable" says Hannah "She needs shea butter for her skin and she told me they won't let me or anyone else bring it in for her."

Meanwhile, Mervyn Cross, the solicitor representing Dianne, says she had been subjected to a long-standing and ongoing delay by the Home Office in the processing of her original application for leave to remain in the UK.

Dianne submitted subsequent applications in the summer which have been refused but, on the morning she was detained, she had sent further evidence in support of her application. The Home Office is legally obliged to consider this evidence before she is removed from the UK.

"We, as the instructing solicitors, were not served with a copy of these removal directions, despite the fact that the Home Office have confirmed by email that they are aware we are acting for her" explains Mervyn Cross "We have attempted to contact the Home Office but have been informed we are not allowed to speak to the case owner.

"Clearly for the Home Office to issue removal directions when Dianne has an outstanding human rights application pending is unlawful" he adds "We will be challenging Dianne's removal if the Home Office do not confirm that they will suspend it."

Yesterday, Mr Cross made an application for a temporary admission to the UK for Dianne which would allow time for her case to be looked at properly and for a bail application to be made. The Home Office received this application yet still issued her with removal directions today.

Dianne, speaking from Yarl's Wood says: "It is beyond my comprehension that the Home Office are doing this before looking at the evidence in my case. I am exceedingly grateful to all the people who are working for me and supporting me, without them I would be lost."

Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, has written to Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill expressing concerns about Dianne's case – and about her lack of access to sufficient food. The sentiments have also been echoed by the community groups that knew and worked with Dianne

"Caritas Salford is very concerned about the time this lady, whom we know well, is being detained pending a decision on bail" says Mark Wiggin, Director of Caritas Salford "We are also worried about the concerns expressed by people in touch with Dianne on the failure to meet her basic human rights on food and communication."

Dr Rhetta Moran, of the Manchester human rights charity RAPAR adds: "Dianne's rights are currently being violated by the Home Office - the right to access due legal process, the right to food, and the right to care for your own body, in this instance by moisturising your own skin.

"These rights exist because ordinary people stood together and demanded them" she explains "The time to defend those rights, and assert them for Dianne and every detained person, is here and now."

What you can do to help...

Write to the Immigration Minister asking him to intervene and suspend the flight until Dianne's new evidence has been properly considered, and copy letters to the three Salford MPs and Lucy Powell, Dianne's MP, Nigel Evans MP for Ribble Valley and to kath.northernstories@gmail.com who is handling the media on this case. There is a model letter below...

For more information check the RAPAR website http://www.rapar.org.uk/dismantle-destitution.html

MODEL LETTER FOR ROBERT GOODWILL

To Robert Goodwill, Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office
Email: robert.goodwill.mp@parliament.uk and to MinisterforImmigration@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Dear Robert Goodwill

Re: DIANNE NGOZA
Date of Birth 28.08.1969 Home Office ref no: 021042760

I am writing to you regarding the case of Dianne Ngoza, a Zambian nurse who has lived in the UK for 14 years. She is currently detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre even though fresh evidence for her case has been submitted to the Home Office. I have now been told that Dianne has received removal instructions from the Home Office for Wednesday, 30th November.

I find this latest move incomprehensible as it is my understanding that removal from the UK cannot take place if fresh evidence has still to be considered. Further, that fresh evidence was submitted before Dianne was detained at Dallas Court Reporting Centre, Salford, on 16th November. In those circumstances, it seems unreasonable and a waste of public resources to detain her let alone remove her from the UK. I am also concerned that, while in Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre, Dianne has not been provided with an adequate vegan diet.

Dianne is being denied the right to have her case properly considered before she is removed from the UK. She is also being denied the right to adequate food.
Dianne is a very valued member of our society and has many friends across the North West and in other parts of the UK. She has received widespread support from refugee charities, church and community organisations, and trade unions because, as a volunteer with many of these organisations, she has worked tirelessly for the most vulnerable members of society.

Dianne has carried out her voluntary work despite her own difficulties. She came to this country on a work permit in 2002 but her visa was not renewed due to errors made by immigration solicitors. Since 2010, she has had to rely on friends and organisations for food, money and shelter

Dianne was brought up in Zambia but she worked in South Africa for several years before coming to the UK and has not lived in Zambia for more than 20 years. She has no relatives or contacts there and her private life consists of her daughter, who lives in the UK, and her church, community groups and wide network of friends. The UK is now Dianne's home.

She has been told that, although she has the right to appeal against the Home Office decision to refuse her case, she must do this from Zambia. She does not have a Zambian passport but, in any case, if she was returned she would not have the financial resources or contacts to enable her to appeal.

I am urging you to intervene in this case as a matter of urgency. The UK is the only home Dianne has now and she can make an extremely valuable contribution to our society. I believe that, on human rights grounds, she should be given leave to remain in the UK.

Yours sincerely, (Your name, address and, if you belong to a church or organisation, please include that too)