Birita's dawn raid.

The call came just after 6.20am. Caren, an Asylum Seeker from our church, rang to say they had come for Birita and her son Brian. I left messages with as many folks as I could, then jumped on my bike. The two immigration vans with blacked out windows gave it all away - they were still at her house. I knocked at the door, and a police officer opened it 4 or 5 inches. 'I've come to see Birita and Brian' I demanded. He said he would see the commanding officer, then shut the door. after a while, I banged again hard. after more exchanges I was finally allowed in. There was Brian's girlfriend, looking very distraught. I explained that this dawn raid was illegal, that Birita had a fresh claim in the system.

The police officer told me that Birita must have broken a law if they had to be here in her house - I said that she had not, she was doing everything legally - it was they who were acting illegally. I demanded to speak to the commanding officer, and eventually a female immigration officer came down stairs. I asked for the telephone number of her superior, and was given the number for Alison Clarke, senior immigration officer at Waterside. I rang and told her that Birita had a claim in - I even had evidence on me, which I showed to the arresting officer.

I was told to wait outside, and I refused, saying that I was going to pray with Birita in her own house before they would be taking her anywhere.

Brian came down, they told him to sit on the sofa. He was extremely distressed, crying. I offered to make some tea, and he got up to make some for me - he was told to 'get back down' 'I just want to make the pastor some tea!' he said. I sprung up and got between Brian an the officer. 'I'll make a drink' I said.

When Birita came down, I sat beside her, she was in great shock. I prayed for her safety, and against these inhuman dawn raids. I hope I made them all ashamed, but I doubt it. Alison Clarke rang me back and assured me that they would keep Birita at Waterside until her solicitor had a chance to 'clear matters up'.

This was a lie, and I later heard that she was shipped off to Yarlswood almost immediately, and before 9am, when her solicitor was due in.

As the family were escorted out, Andrew, Phil and Bobby arrived. Phil took photo's which really upset the immigration officers. As they drove away, we were all completely gutted, but made an action plan for the day, inviting Brian's girlfriend to help, and contacting Birita's daughter Sheila.

The whole process is sick. State sponsored child abuse. They even admitted later that they had 'lost' her fresh claim that was sent in in February. If they had processed it properly, she would never have had to face her third dawn raid, and her second time in Yarlswood.

As I write this, Birita and Brian are in Kenya, flown back after a special secret hearing denied her fresh claim. Brian is in a terrible way. Pray for them, pray hard. Then join in the struggle for Justice for All who seek sanctuary here.