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In The Press

Opelo Kgari: Government thwarted in second bid to deport woman brought to UK from Botswana (Independent and Mmegi) (13 April 2018)

Date: 13/04/2018
Duncan Lewis, InThePress Solicitors, Opelo Kgari: Government thwarted in second bid to deport woman brought to UK from Botswana (Independent and Mmegi)

A 27 year old woman named Opelo Kgari, who arrived in the UK with her mother from Botswana when she was 13, has had her removal halted for the second time. Opelo has been on hunger strike whilst in detention in support of detainee rights. Her mother, Florence, a client of Duncan Lewis Public Law Director Bahar Ata, was also detained in Yarl’s Wood and was recently served with a removal notice as well. In Botswana Florence was a victim of torture and gender-based violence which recognises her as a vulnerable individual as defined in Shaw’s Adults at Risk policy. In spite of this, the Home Office served both Florence and her daughter a removal notice. Shortly before her daughter, Opelo, was removed she had her phone taken from her and was unable to speak to her solicitor. Opelo was then taken to Heathrow airport with the intention to remove her to Botswana. She was at the airport when the injunction came through and her removal has been deferred. In Florence’s case, her solicitor, Bahar, was able to secure an injunction against her removal not two hours after she was informed that she was being taken to the airport, on the basis that she is a vulnerable individual. Bahar states: “[My client] is accepted to be a victim of torture and gender-based violence and the policy is clear that removal window procedure should not be used in such cases, due to the vulnerability of a person in Florence’s position.” A Home Office spokesperson has confirmed that on Monday 9 April “a last minute injunction against the removal of Florence and Opelo Kgari [was secured], although their immigration status remains unchanged. We have noted the injunction and are carefully considering its implications.” Duncan Lewis are now instructed by Opelo as well Florence, and are representing both mother and daughter in challenging the refusal of their Human Rights claims.

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