Asylum family's review rejected

The family has received strong support from people in Plymouth

A Nigerian woman and her six children who were living in Plymouth have lost their battle against deportation after a case review was rejected, an MP says.

Helen and her children came to the UK in 2003 and moved to Plymouth a year later when her husband returned home.

Officials were examining if a Case Resolution Exercise which could have meant indefinite leave was appropriate.

Their case did not qualify, immigration minister Liam Byrne has told Plymouth MP Linda Gilroy.

It is my job ... to ensure that no stone has been left unturned - I now believe this point has been reached Linda Gilroy MP

The family is currently at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre.

Friends of the family from their time in Plymouth have been campaigning for them to be allowed to stay.

Stoke Damerel College, where four of the children studied, began a protest after the family was taken to Yarl's Wood.

Speaking to Ms Gilroy, Liam Byrne said he was satisfied "all relevant issues have been considered" in regard to Helen, who has asked not to be named in full, and her family.

The family's original claim for asylum - fearing domestic "abuse, cruel treatments and death threats" if they returned to Africa - was rejected. Two appeals also failed.

Return support

Ms Gilroy said: "As an MP it is my job to respond to requests from constituents to ensure that no stone has been left unturned. I now believe this point has been reached.

"I will continue to discuss with Helen's closest advisers what happens now and what scope there is for supporting her safe return to Nigeria in the light of this decision."

Support for the family - Theresa, 19, Winston and Mac, both 16, Emmanuel, 14, Fred, 10, and Richard, six - has grown since students at Stoke Damerel began their campaign.

Emmanuel suffers from sickle cell anaemia.

Helen has worked voluntarily for the Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council and as a researcher for the University of Lancashire.

She is also a governor at St Peter's Church of England School in Plymouth.