We have learned Ife (who has Down's Syndrome) and her family have been threatened with detention and deportation by the Home Office.

This petition is in support of the case of the family - Mum Chinoyerem Iwu, her partner J Adigwe, and children Ifechuckwu ('Ife') and Nginikachukwu. The family live in Peckham, London.

Chinoyerem’s daughter Ifechuckwu is only 2 years old and suffers from Down’s Syndrome as well as serious health complications. We think it is unacceptable that the Home Office wants to detain and remove Ifechuckwu to Nigeria where there is insufficient public healthcare and widespread discrimination against people with Down Syndrome.

In Nigeria, Ifechuckwu would suffer and face persecution. We believe this would be a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights on these grounds.

Furthermore, the Home Office’s proposed detention for children in an immigration prison in Britain is a disgusting and immoral concept, especially for Ifechuckwu with a serious health condition, where the Home Office would be condemning the child to serious health risks.

Chinoyerem and her family have serious debts (over £10,000) due to NHS costs subjected on immigrants. The family is paying continually for NHS access and it is insulting that the Home Office dares to say otherwise.

We also know Chinoyerem as a strong active member of the community in Peckham. She is entitled to her life in the community where she has lived for the last 3 years (and in Britain for the last 8 years). Chinoyerem is a known supporter of local groups at the local Peckham gardening project, Nell Gwynn nursery, Ivydale Children’s Centre, Rye Oak school (where at both she has studied), as well as Our Lady of Sorrows Church.

We expect to see Chinoyerem’s family deportation orders cancelled and that they are issued the legal right to remain in Britain.

We believe this would be the only humane and legitimate outcome to this case.