My name is Aneesa. I cannot give my real name to protect my family. I am 17 years old. I study aviation in college. 

In 2013, my father was granted political asylum in the UK because of the risk to his life in theGambia. Now the government is trying to send him and our family back to the Gambia.

Background

An immigration judge accepted that my dad's cousin had been executed by the Gambian government and that due to his own political activities, there was a real risk that he would be persecuted too.

In February 2015, my two elder siblings and I joined my dad in the UK under the refugee family reunion scheme. The Home Office however refused to allow my mother to join us. 

We spent the next three and a half years fighting her case in the courts until she was finally allowed to join us in August 2018. I did not have my mother around me for most of my teenage years.

In October 2018, we applied for indefinite leave to remain. The Home Office sat on our applications for almost 3 years during which time we had no way of proving we had the right to live in the UK.

As a result, my dad almost lost his job on several occasions. My brother and sister missed out on university places and were both refused employment. I am worried that I too will not be allowed to start university.

Now the Home Office has told us that they think my father will be safe in the Gambia so he needs to go back there and take us with him. 

Even the UNHCR has told the Home Office that they should not take away our refugee status and deport us but they are not listening.

The Help We Need

Our lives have been in turmoil for so many years already and my dad already spent thousands of pounds from his meagre salary paying legal expenses for my mother's case, which we ultimately won. We just want to be able to live our lives in peace and normality. 

I desperately need your support to help pay for our lawyers to fight our appeal before the immigration tribunal. As both my parents are working, they are marginally above the threshold to get legal aid. The cost of solicitors and a barrister is coming to £4500.

Please help us to stay together in the UK and not be deported to the Gambia where my father's life remains at risk.

Thank you for all your support.