Outrage after Armenian family seized in Bristol dawn raid
A young Armenian family face being deported after they were seized from their St George home in a dawn raid.
Single mum Anna Vardanyan, 33, and her children Mariam, 16, Norik, 12, and Gayana, eight, were taken away by 10 police officers and immigration officials at 6am yesterday morning.
The family, who have lived in Bristol since 2002, were not arrested but were taken to Trinity Road police station.
They were then transported to Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire, from where they are due to be deported on Friday.
The UK Border Agency says the Vardanyans are living in the country illegally after their claim for asylum was turned down and subsequent appeals rejected.
But the family's solicitors have taken out an emergency court injunction to block their removal. They are also in the process of lodging a judicial review and an appeal to re-examine the case.
Last night friends and supporters of the Vardanyans gathered outside Trinity Road police station to protest.
The family are being championed by Paulette North, a teacher at the City Academy and a member of Bristol Defend The Asylum Seekers Campaign.
Ms North said: "This is just disgraceful. They are not criminals, and they are not here illegally as their case is still live.
"We don't feel that the courts have considered all the factors in their claim, and we have presented new evidence relating to the safety of the family if they were to be deported."
Ms North rushed to the police station when she heard the family had been detained.
She said: "It is terrible. They weren't up, they weren't washed, and the children were terribly upset and were shaking and screaming."
Ms Vardanyan's eldest children are pupils at City Academy in Lawrence Hill.
Her youngest, Gayana, was just two months old when she came to England, and is a pupil at Summerhill Junior School in St George.
In May last year the family went through a similar experience when they were held for five days at an immigration centre at Gatwick airport.
In December Ms Vardanyan's son Norik addressed politicians and councillors during a conference at his school on the plight of children in detention centres.
Ray Priest, the academy's principal, said that more than 150 of his 1,300 students were asylum seekers or refugees.
He said: "These are lovely children who are doing so well at school."
He added: "The thing that surprises me most is the suddenness and the Draconian approach to it."
Mariam's school friends also rallied around in support.
Nzinga Williams, 16, said: "I think it is unfair because Mariam has been here for ages."
Kerry McCarthy, Labour MP for Bristol East, said she would be contacting the Home Office about the situation.
She said: "We are doing all we can to help the Vardanyan family and are working with their solicitors to stay the removal until further representations have been looked at."
A spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency said the family had been detained under immigration laws as they had no legal status in the UK.
Jane Farleigh said: "In cases like this, both the UK Border Agency and the courts will have considered all the evidence.
"Our decision not to grant asylum was scrutinised by an independent immigration judge who upheld our position.
"Where the courts decide people have no right to remain because they do not need our protection, we would much rather that they accept this and leave voluntarily.
"Sadly, some people refuse to leave and the only option is to remove them.
"We would not remove anyone who was at risk of persecution or harm."
15 Comments
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by hater57893458, WeHateImmigrants!!!1
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 10:56AM
“they shouldn't be allowed here!!!11 they cost us waaaaaaaaaaaaay to much money”
by marat, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 9:28PM
“Sadly I noticed people making some unkind comments about this matter. I think some people have forgotten about their own history, as far as I know uk is a nation of immigrants¿ and nearly all our roots generated from somewhere else but our ancestors immigrated here on this land without any permission so this means were all illegal¿s. I personally know this family which I can say their very nice, polite people. One of the children Gayana was just 2months old when she arrived here in the uk and now she¿s 8years old lovely young lady, there¿s no difference between Gayana or any other British children. I think this is very cruel to detain children under any excuse and they ought to live in freedom.”
by John, Briz
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 8:19PM
“Xavier - my IQ is 151 thank you. What is yours? When someone disagrees with you do you simply call them stupid because you are completely incapable of constructing a reasoned argument? When do you last form an opinion of your own? When did you last re-examine your opinion about something and change your mind. I put it to you Sir, that you are in fact, a peasant.”
by Xavier, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 6:52PM
“Well said Brian. Would rather have a nive family in teh country rather than a hate filled, il-informed racist. I imagine he is unemployed or in a very low paid job with no or little self-esteem. The sooner his ilk is removed and diluted the better.
How anyone can be so ignorant of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is well beyond me. I presume John Briz gets his news from a copy of the Sun circa 2001 as his lack of insight and knowledge is frightening- yes this sort of muppet gets to vote no doubt!! IQ tests shoudl be mandatory to be able to vote. They had it right in the old days. Only the educated got a say and the dumb classes didnt.”
by Jackie, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 4:18PM
“Their case is still being considered.”
by Jon, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 4:12PM
“NJ, you miss the point - they are in the country illegally. They are (rightly) being deported.”
by Jackie, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 4:11PM
“I know this family and they are wonderful people - really kind and caring as well as being desperate to work and contribute in that way, too. I have seen them many times supporting their neighbours, looking out for old, young and disabled. It will be nothing but loss to British people if this family can't stay.”
by NJ, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 4:09PM
“So that must mean almost 82% of pupils are not asylum seekers or refugees then doesnt it? Like most who are on benefits are not asylum seekers? I welcome anyone here who wants to be part of this community. Who is to say the eldest child will not become say a doctor or teacher one day? Would you have a problem with them then? I bet you moad about packing immigrants home, but when you need them you are more thanhappy to use their skills. I woul dhave thought there would have been more post on this story, if it were a Somali family, sure the post would have been through the roof.”
by Brian, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 2:25PM
“I have always felt lucky to have been born here - but thats all it is - Luck. If some flees here and asks for protection (asylum) I always say give them a chance to escape their bad luck! Thousands, no millions feel like me. They cannot understand other British people who say "send them back, lock them up with their kids - hate them." These people are wrong and must stop their hatred. This family is welcome here.”
by Roddy, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 9:50AM
“I wonder how many tens of thousands of pounds just this one case has cost the British tax payer??? Schooling for three kids, NHS services for the family, housing, dole and endless thousands in legal aid so they can argue against the law. It makes me sick! I will vote for any party that commits to reverse this ridiculoius situation. We must be mad as a nation to let it go on.”