Students rallied round yesterday to keep watch over a family of three who fear immigration officers will storm their house to deport them at any moment.
The vigil was held at Mary Mendoza's temporary accommodation in West Bowling where she lives with daughters Julia Christiane, seven, and Angel, who is just over a week old. Students from Soulspace Church, at Desmond Tutu House, Bradford, and Students Action For Refugees, a group set up by peace studies students from the University of Bradford, are involved in the overnight sit-in.
Mrs Mendoza, 36, fled the Philippines with Julia in February last year following the murder of her husband, cousin and a 14-month-old boy relative, because of a feud over land ownership.
Their asylum bid was rejected at a Home Office Immigration Tribunal last June after failing to convince the court they will be killed if they are forced to go home. An appeal has been lodged and the vigil will continue until the family is no longer at risk.
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