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Mauritius teenager to be deported with family Mauritius teenager to be deported with family
(35 minutes later)
A teenager who came close to being deported on her own has been told that she and her family will all be sent home to Mauritius after losing an appeal. The Bageerathi family's case came to light this week when it emerged that the eldest daughter, Yashika, 19, was due to be separated from her family and deported alone because she was considered an adult. The family of a teenager who came close to being deported on her own are to be sent back to Mauritius along with the 19-year-old after losing their appeal, it emerged on Tuesday.
She was given what appeared to be a last-minute reprieve on Tuesday afternoon when it was claimed that British Airways refused to put her on its flight and she was returned to a detention centre. But the family's celebrations were short-lived, as later the same day it was announced that the whole family was to be sent back to Mauritius instead. The Bageerathi family's case came to light last week when it emerged that the eldest daughter, Yashika, was due to be separated from her family and deported alone because she was considered an adult.
Solicitors working on Yashika's case were told that it has been rejoined with that of the rest of her family, and that the appeal against their deportation has been rejected. She was given what appeared to be a last-minute reprieve on Tuesday afternoon when it was claimed that British Airways had refused to put her on its flight and she was returned to a detention centre. But the family's celebrations were short-lived, as later the same day it was announced that the whole family was to be sent back to Mauritius.
On Tuesday evening, the news was broken to teachers and friends of two of the family's three children at the Oasis Academy Hedley in north London, who have led a campaign to block the deportation supported by more than 100,000 people. Solicitors working on Yashika's case were told that it had been rejoined with that of the rest of her family, and that the appeal against their deportation had been rejected. On Tuesday evening, the news was broken to teachers and friends of two of the family's three children at the Oasis Academy Hadley, in north London, who have led a campaign to block the deportation supported by more than 100,000 people.
Headteacher Lynne Dawes said she thought the move was a bid to dismiss their argument that deporting Yashika would split up her family. "I'm not proud of my country treating people in this way," she said. "Her mother is not coping, she's really struggling and is very tearful." Headteacher Lynne Dawes said she thought the move was an attempt to dismiss their argument that deporting Yashika would split up her family. "I'm not proud of my country treating people in this way," she said. "Her mother is not coping, she's really struggling and is very tearful."
The entire family, including Yashika's mother Sowbhagyawatee, 28, sister Shaivya, 16 (also a student at the same school), and brother Cherish, 11 are now set to be deported. The family, including Yashika's mother Sowbhagyawatee, 28, sister Shaivya, 16 and brother Cherish, 11, will now be deported.
A friend of Yashika Lee Pedder, 18, said: "Our legal team are pushing them and we will continue to as well. If her entire family is going to be deported, we will support them all. This is a massively cynical tactic to try and shut up democratic oversight." Lee Pedder, 18, a friend of Yashika, said: "Our legal team are pushing them and we will continue to as well. If her entire family is going to be deported, we will support them all. This is a massively cynical tactic to try and shut up democratic oversight."
Estyhia Tangeli, 18, said the decision to deport both girls from the school, and the rest of the family, was disgraceful. She said: "It makes them look worse as they will lose two valuable members of society; her sister is predicted As and A*s in her GCSEs she's about to sit."Estyhia Tangeli, 18, said the decision to deport both girls from the school, and the rest of the family, was disgraceful. She said: "It makes them look worse as they will lose two valuable members of society; her sister is predicted As and A*s in her GCSEs she's about to sit."
Another friend on Yashika Shantelle Creed, 17, said that her supporters believed they were being bullied by the Home Office. "We're showing just how passionate and engaged we are and they're backing us into a corner. We won't stop," she said. Another friend, Shantelle Creed, 17, said: "We're showing just how passionate and engaged we are and they're backing us into a corner. We won't stop."
Yashika's case also attracted support in Westminster. Conservative MP David Burrowes made a plea to the Home Office on her behalf. He claimed that British Airways had refused to deport the teenager on Tuesday afternoon, leading to her being sent back to Yarl's Wood. Yashika's case also attracted support in Westminster. Conservative MP David Burrowes made a plea to the Home Office on her behalf. He said that British Airways had refused to deport the teenager on Tuesday afternoon, leading to her being sent back to Yarl's Wood detention centre, in Bedfordshire.
The family came to the UK in 2012 fleeing violent threats from a family member, which they say have not dissipated in the intervening years. The family came to the UK in 2012, fleeing violent threats from a family member.
On Sunday, the shadow immigration minister David Hanson MP said her case should be reconsidered. Today, a student at her school said that he phoned Hanson's opposite number, the Conservative immigration minister James Brokenshire, who also expressed support. The shadow immigration minister, David Hanson MP, called at the weekend for the family's to be reconsidered. A Home Office spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we consider every application on its individual merits. We do not routinely comment on individual cases."
Engin Cavus, 18, said: "I explained the situation, I asked 'what if that was our sister, our daughter'. [Mr Brokenshire] said 'I am supportive of the campaign, but there is not much I can do'. He said 'I understand, but you have to call the Home Office'." British Airways refused to comment, citing data protection laws. James Brokenshire MP did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The school has allowed students to set up a campaign centre on the premises and to run it outside of lesson times. "I have never been so proud of my school," said Kate Aleksandrova, 16.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we consider every application on its individual merits. We do not routinely comment on individual cases."
British Airways refused to comment, citing data protection laws and James Brokenshire MP did not respond to repeated requests for comment.