AN African preacher and his young family, who became the focus of a campaign by churches, trade unions and politicians after being detained in Dungavel detention centre, face deportation this week.
Pastor Makielokele Nzelengi Daly, 42, fled war-torn Angola with his wife, Isabell, and their children, Rachel, 16, Josue, 14, Linda, 13, and 11-year-old Isaac, more than four years ago to seek asylum in the UK. In January, they were sent to the Lanarkshire centre after their application was refused.
Their detention provoked an outcry because of Pastor Daly's contribution to Scottish society since coming to the country.
Demonstrators took to the streets of Glasgow to protest. After The Herald highlighted the case, lawyers launched a judicial review and the family were granted bail and allowed back to their home in the city.
However, it emerged yesterday that the family were detained on Saturday at the immigration office in Brand Street, Glasgow, and are to be deported to Angola on Friday.
The Dalys were taken to Yarl's Wood detention centre in Clapham, Bedfordshire, pending their removal.
Rosie Kane, the Scottish Socialist Party MSP who helped secure bail for the family and has acted as guarantor, said she was outraged at the Home Office's decision and lawyers were seeking a judicial review of the case, claiming the government had made a number of legal errors.
She said: "This is the second time these children have been locked up and it is unnecessary, completely unjustified, and deplorable that a family should be taken away from their friends and home life."
Sandra White, the Scottish National Party MSP, said: "I am totally f labbergasted and shocked and the family have my full support to stay in the UK."
Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, said: "The campaign of terror against Scottish asylum families continues. Families like Pastor Daly's can expect not just to be the victims of dawn raids, but also the victims of Brand Street immigration office, Govan, where frightened families don't know whether they will be kept in or taken away to be deported.
"It's an inhumane, utterly barbaric asylum policy and it has to be stopped on Scottish soil, if nowhere else."
A spokesman for the Home Office said: "We cannot comment on individual cases. All claims are considered on their individual merits under the terms of the 1951 UN Conventions. Under the convention, asylum can only be granted when applicants demonstrate they have a well-founded fear of persecution.
"It is important for the integrity of our asylum system that any individual who is found not to be in need of international protection should be expected to leave the UK.
"Voluntary returns are preferable to enforced returns but if people do not leave voluntarily, we will enforce their return."
Margaret Woods, of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, said: "We will fight to keep the family here."
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