DCU student Mehwish Saqib was issued with a deportation order from the Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan earlier today.
The University of Sanctuary student was originally issued with a voluntary deportation order on Friday September 27th, giving her five days to leave the country with her husband and three young children.
She previously told The College View “About three months ago we updated our leave to remain application and we put all the references from the university and the schools that the children go to and all the stuff we need for our application.”
The leave to remain application was denied and Saqib and her family were issued with a voluntary deportation order.
A Change.org petition “We wish for Mehwish” was set up by DCUSU to stop her deportation and reached over 7,000 signatures.
Despite this Saqib and her family were issued with an official deportation earlier today.
Saqib posted to her Twitter earlier today to tell everyone who had supported her appeal to remain in the country of the devastating news and to thank them for their support.
“It is very devastating news for me and my family,” she said.
Saqib thanked DCUSU for the campaigning they carried out on her behalf, along with her classmates and those who stood with her during this difficult time.
According to Berkley Solicitors, a person issued with a deportation order can apply to have their deportation order revoked if new information is submitted that was not available at the time the deportation was issued.
This would mean if there is information that Saqib and her family did not include on their original leave to appeal then they any be able to appeal the deportation order.
Saqib, originally from Pakistan, left the country due to fears for her life.
She previously told The College View: “We had death threats back in our country, so that’s why we left about eight years ago.
DCUSU are once again calling on Minister Charlie Flanagan to revoke this deportation order and allow Saqib to complete her studies.
Aoife O’Brien
Image Credit: Aine O’Boyle