Littlehampton family’s plea over deportation fears

The family of 19-year-old Jackie Van Der Spuy, better known as Jackie Young, were horrified when a letter from the UK Border Agency came through last week, telling them she had a mere 10 days before the deportation process would be set in motion – despite the teen’s mother and sister already being granted a visa to remain in the country.

Distraught step-father Robert Young, 51, said: “This is absolutely outrageous.

“You are sending a 19-year-old girl, who has no family in South Africa, to her death.

“She has no money and nowhere safe to go. How will she live?

“It’s sickening. There is a culture of violence in South Africa, especially towards, white, teenage girls.

“My worst fear is that she is raped and killed. It’s a horrible situation to be put into.

“She is our daughter. She is hard-working, caring and has never been in trouble with the law. It would devastate Diane if Jackie was deported.”

Jackie, who is currently living with her family in Rope Walk, came over from South Africa, with her younger sister and English mother, Diane, on a four-year, ancestral visa, in 2006.

However, now the visa has expired, the future of the former Littlehampton Community School student looks bleak, with her family frightened that if she is deported she could be killed.

Robert, who works at Ford Prison, initially thought Jackie and her family had five years in the country on their original ancestral visa.

On closer inspection, however, he was horrified to notice, in June last year, that the visa was for four years, and was already two months out-of-date.

Robert, who suffers with dyslexia, said: “As soon as we realised, we began filling out the paper work again.

“By July, 2010, we had sent off all the applications, so we thought everything was all right when visas started arriving. But we were shocked when Jackie was refused.

“We had both of the girls’ names changed to Young so they felt like a family. I love both of the kids tremendously. My four-year-old daughter will be in tears if Jackie is deported.”

The family has now begun a frantic struggle with solicitors in Brighton to try to appeal against the UK Border Agency’s decision, under article 8 of The Human Rights Act.

The costly battle is something they are struggling to afford. As a result, friends and family have rallied behind them, loaning them £3,500 to help pay for legal fees.

However, fees could increase dramatically, if the battle is taken to court.

Robert said: “This is a real kick in the teeth for a family who are right on the bottom line, trying to survive. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.”

Jackie, who recently finished a catering course at Chichester College, said: “The whole thing is very stressful. I have had quite a few asthma attacks because of it.

“I’m petrified about being sent back. I don’t know what might happen to me out there.

“But I’m scared that, if I am sent out, my little sister will forget who I am.

“My 20th birthday is also on the 17th but I don’t even know if I will still be in the country by then.”

Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP, Nick Gibb, has been contacted by Jackie and her family, He has told the Gazette that he is assisting Jackie as much as he can with her deportation plight.

The UK Border Agency confirmed that the process had begun to remove Jackie from the country.

A spokesman for the agency said: “Miss Young’s application was treated separately as she is now an adult. Unfortunately, she failed to apply to renew her visa before it expired.

“Every case is carefully considered on its own merits against UK’s immigration rules, which are firm but fair and must apply to everyone. We will always consider any further representations before we make a decision to remove someone from the UK.”

He added: “Miss Young’s mother and younger sister applied for Leave to Remain out of time by one year and were granted discretionary leave until May 20, 2012, as the mother had married a British citizen and had a child with him. Unfortunately, Miss Young didn’t qualify as her mother’s dependant as she was over the age of 18.”

Jackie’s immediate future remains uncertain. However, the Gazette understands that she has until Tuesday, December 13, before she will be forced to leave the country.