NHSF PR Team
Yashika Bageerathi, an A-level student aged 19, The student had been in the UK since 2011, and was deported on an Air Mauritius flight from Heathrow Airport 2nd April at 9pm.
A young student, who had arrived from her home country of Mauritius, to the United Kingdom, in 2011 along with her mother and two younger siblings. She has gone on to study for her A-levels, and is regarded by her peers as possessing tremendous academic talent. Termed a ‘gifted’ schoolgirl and described as an active and helpful member of the school community by her head-teacher, Ms Lynne Dawes, Miss Bageerathi is predicted As and A*s for her A-levels and is due to take her exams next month, in May. Despite being detained in the Immigration Removal Centre, Yashika attempted to continue her studies and complete her A-levels.
Facts
All four of members of the Bageerathi family applied for asylum in the summer of 2013 – citing an imminent threat of danger from relatives should they return to their native country. Her case has since harnessed enormous public support – with over 175,000 signatures on a petition created to prevent the deportation. Both Mr Burrowes, MP for the Enfield region in which Miss Bageerathi was residing, and Keith Vaz, Chairman of Home Affairs Select Committee, have intervened in an attempt to allow Miss Bageerathi to stay in the UK to complete her exams. Mr Vaz added that removing her from education at this stage would likely to be detrimental to her and be ‘needlessly cruel’, despite reassurances from the Home Office that she would be able to complete her education in Mauritius.
As a general rule, a child cannot be removed from the country while in full time education. Much controversy surrounds the application of this principle to Miss Bageerathi’s case however, as an individual of 19 is not legally considered a child and does not therefore strictly warrant protection under this guideline. In response, Ms Dawes has appealed for compassion and humanity in the application of this rule.The decision taken was the final one and was unchanged, despite numerous appeals by Miss Bageerathi’s legal team. Whilst we uphold the need adhere to the rule of law and maintain strict policies, the National Hindu Students Forum (UK) strongly support the Bageerathi Family on the basis the Yashika should have at least been allowed to complete her studies at the very least.
As part of her application, Miss Bageerathi stated that deporting her would expose her and her family to an imminent risk of physical abuse by a relative. This argument was not accepted by immigration minister, Mr Brokenshire, who stated that there was no compelling or compassionate basis for intervention. The question remains whether the deportation will lead to such a risk to the family.