Dear Supporter
Apologies if you have signed our related petition and get two updates.
Below is an update I have just posted on the other petition, which was started before this one and is about mass deportations more broadly.
If you haven't signed it, please do, as we will be posting updates relating to all the deportations on it but where there is something specifically relating to Zimbabwe deportations we will post on this one.
Dear Supporter
The Home Office plan to deport around 50 people to Jamaica on 11th August.
We are aware that some people have already been detained including those who have been living in the UK since they were small children, people who are parents of young children here and whilst the UK government try to portray them as horrific criminals, guilty of the worst crimes, some were convicted for driving offences. Some may also be victims of modern day slavery as we have seen with past deportations. People born in the UK if they have been convicted are allowed to serve their time, be rehabilitated and turn their lives around but for black people who were not born in the UK, even if they have spent the majority of their lives here, bern to school here, have British partners and children, face a triple punishment of prison, detention in prison like conditions and deportation.
Black people are disproportionately targeted for deportations by the UK government and also face institutional racism and thus disproportionate sentencing in the criminal justice system.
This is unfair and discriminatory.
The mass deportation by charter flight to Jamaica is part of a summer of deportations by the Home Office.
This week 22 people were deported to Vietnam and the week before 14 were deported to Zimbabwe. Successful legal challenges and campaigning meant that the numbers actually deported were far lower than the numbers targeted but it still means that 36 people were torn from their loved ones, including children. In the case of the #Vietnam22 it is thought that some of those deported were victims of human trafficking. There was a successful legal challenge on behalf of one such victim which meant they were not deported.
Those deported to Zimbabwe fear persecution and fled Zimbabwe because of persecution. They understand that following quarantine they will be driven to a city centre and dumped.
The government plan to deport people to Nigeria, Ghana and Pakistan also.
Those who were not deported last week to Zimbabwe are still not safe and remain detained.
The government plan more than one deportation flight to Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
If you or someone you know has been detained or is at risk please get urgent legal advice. There is often a very short period between being detained and deported and there are restrictions in detention centres which are limiting access to the computer rooms which impacts on accessing resources to identify and communicate with lawyers and prepare cases. This is further impacted by recent and current outbreaks of coronavirus on detention centres.
If you need legal support, get in touch, we can recommend specialist immigration lawyers.
We need your ongoing support for this campaign.please share this petition and our updates.
A reminder that our model letter to MPs, which you can use and adapt with any personal story you want to add can be accessed here:
Thank you to everyone who has already done this and sent us copies of the replies you have received. Apologies that we haven't been able to acknowledge each one individually but we do appreciate it.
Follow us on twitter @baracuk for updates and actions to take. We will also share the actions by other groups we are working with to oppose these deportations.
You can also check and use the hashtags:
#stoptheplane #Zimbabwe150 #Jamaica50 #Vietnam22 #enddeportations
We also have a petition here relating to the deportations to Zimbabwe.
https://www.change.org/p/uk-home-office-stop-the-charter-flight-deportations-to-zimbabwe
Here is some recent news coverage:
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/jamaicans-face-disgraceful-deportations
https://barbados.loopnews.com/content/jamaicans-trinis-and-st-lucians-deported-uk-higher-rates-1
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-57917683.amp
Thank you for your support.
Regards
Zita
Zita Holbourne
National Chair BARAC UK