I received news today of a new group of people coming together to raise awareness regarding some specific problems linked to the deportation of failed asylum seekers that touch them directly. These are Brides without Borders, the girlfriends, fiancés and wives of people facing deportation in the UK.

The news is that various couples facing forcible separation have come together across the UK to start a national campaign to raise the profile of their cases, and highlight the ways in which the Home Office’s immigration policy affects even them, British Citizens.

They explain: “Many of us have been told by the Home office that our partners can go back to their country, and we may accompany them there even though the Foreign Office advise against travel to these countries…

Many of us have also been advised that our partners can travel back to their countries and apply for a visa to return to the UK…

Also, many of us have even been denied the right to marry our partners. New laws prevent asylum seekers marrying UK nationals.”

They are now looking for support for their Public Petitions to the House of Commons asking “That the House of Commons debates on this matter, and [thus asks] that the Home Office reconsiders their decisions and uses their powers to grant Discretionary Leave to individuals in cases where the removal would involve a the British National accompanying their spouse to an ‘unsafe’ country or a separation of couples for an indefinite length of time.”

They are also sending letters to various MPs and organising a demonstration that should take place on 10th October 2005 when Parliament reconvenes and starts discussing changes to current asylum policy / law.

This opens a window on the world of complex relations that characterise the life of an asylum seeker in the country where he/she lodges an application.
Unavoidably, people build new friendships, become familiar with the environment, their children enter the local school system and, within their uncertain condition of limbo, they manage to settle into their new uncertain lives. Therefore, a deportation order does not imply only a renewed fear for their lives once back in the country of origin, but also a sense of loss of those little everyday normal things they had managed to conquer regardless of their precarious life in the country of exile.

Usually, discussions regarding these cases turn around one main conclusion:
“If they claimed asylum, and their claim was refused, it means they are not in real fear of persecution in the country of origin, therefore they can be sent back. The state has acted within the law.”

However, I want to start a discussion around two other issues:

1) The definition of “safe country”.

It is common to find situations like the ones described by Bride without Borders, where asylum seekers are refused a claim on the basis that the country of origin is now safe, while British Nationals are told that the same country is not safe and are advised not to travel there. This was the case of Kosovo, then Afghanistan and now Iraq.
Often the definition of “safe country” given by international organisations working in the field is not an absolute clear cut claim, but implies various layers and includes a variety of specific cases for which the conclusions that the country of origin is now safe do not apply. This are often ignored by the authorities and the press.

2) Best long-term outcome for all parties involved: the individual, the country of exile and the country of origin.

Quite often a premature forced repatriation of failed asylum seekers can create further problems to the country of origin itself let alone the individual returnee, and can also deprive the country of exile of the valuable contribution of these people.
A discussion about possible opportunities that might lead to a win-win situation as opposed to cases where all parties involved loose out should be explored further.

I invite you to send me your opinion regarding these two points, in the meantime for those who would like to know more about Brides without Borders:

Inquiries/further information:

Jessica Hossein
justice4hossein@aol.com
07951 583353

If you want to know more about a few specific cases:

Suzie and Nazwad
Katie and Sherzad

Jenifer and Ali

Heather and Shah