JACQUI SMITH ASKED TO INTERVENE URGENTLY IN DUNGAVEL CHILD EXPULSION.

JACQUI SMITH ASKED TO INTERVENE URGENTLY IN DUNGAVEL CHILD EXPULSION.

UK BORDER AGENCY SEEKING TO EXPEL CHILD 1 DAY BEFORE MEDICAL EXAMINATION

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie is calling on the Home Secretary to intervene urgently in the case of a child recently held in Dungavel who the UK Border Agency are planning to expel from the country in direct opposition to UK Government policy one day before he is due to be examined by a paediatrician.

Ms McKelvie has learnt that four year old Arouna Gaye, who was held in Dungavel with his mother Fatou Felicite Gaye after a dawn raid in Sighthill, Glasgow earlier this month is to be expelled from the UK at 8.30 tomorrow morning by the UK Border Agency. He is presently being held in a detention centre at Yarl’s Wood in Bedford.

His expulsion is directly at odds with a UK Government Commitment not to deport people being seen by a medical caseworker. Four year old Arouna Gaye is due to see a paediatrician on Friday which may provide evidence to support his case for remaining here.

The commitment was given by then Under Secretary of State for the Home Office, Andy Burnham, that people seeking asylum would not have any action taken against them if they were to be seen by a medical caseworker.

Commenting Ms McKelvie said:

“The fact that a four year old child who was traumatised by his previous experience has been recently held at Dungavel is already the cause of controversy but this latest action by the Border Agency raises even more questions about their behaviour.

“That he is to be so hurriedly expelled from the UK before a medical examination raises eyebrows about what the UK Border Agency is playing at?

“When Andy Burnham was Under Secretary of State for the Home Office he said that that people seeking asylum would not have any action taken against them if they were to be seen by a medical caseworker. This is patently the case with Arouna and action must be taken.”