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When John Ragwar of Penicuik, came to Scotland in 1998 from
Kenya to study he had no idea that he would fall in love with a Church
of Scotland clerk but that's exactly what happened.
He met his future wife Karen, 34, while playing against her at five-a-side
football in 1999. When John broke his leg on the football pitch it was
Karen who took him to the hospital. The pair soon fell in love and got
married in 2001. They have since had two sons, Matthew, three, and David,
two.
After they were married John applied for British Citizenship but heard
nothing until a month ago. After living in Scotland for eight years,
immigration chiefs have decided that John is staying in Scotland illegally
and must return to Kenya. They claim their decision will not split the
family up because they can all go and live in the African nation together.
The Ragwar's do not want to take their family to Kenya fearing that the
country's low tolerance of mixed-race relationships could have a devastating
effect on their lives.
Karen Ragwar said: 'I fear for the children and my
personal safety if we went to Kenya. This is on top of the culturaluprooting
of my children to a foreign country. We don't deserve this as we have
done nothing wrong. I would plea to the Government to review their decision
and let my husband stay with his wife and children.'
Husband John is very worried for his family saying 'I'm afraid they would
definitely experience racial abuse and torment in Kenya, I would have
to leave them here as it would not be safe for them to come to Africa.
I would then apply to come back to
the UK, but who knows how long it would take.'
'I've been told they will verbally and physically assault me and my wife
if we return to Kenya, but I don't know how I will cope being separated
from them,' said John.
A spokesman for the Home Office said: 'According to the immigration rules,
those wishing to marry in the UK must obtain entry clearance for that
purpose. Those who have not done so and are denied leave to remain on
these grounds would be expected to
return to their country of origin to obtain the proper entry clearance.'
John is appealing the deportation order and he and
his family are awaiting a decision by the home office.
John and his family are not alone in their tales of
misery when dealing with the Home Office. Steve Cohen's new book Deportation
Is Freedom!, takes a look at the racist, unjust and irrational immigration
controls of the UK Home Office.
Click here for more:
UK
family must leave to stay together.
