A Gambian woman living in the United Kingdom is facing ongoing uncertainty over her immigration status after a second planned deportation flight was abruptly cancelled at the last minute.
Fatou Tamba, 55, has lived in the UK for the past 18 years, including the last eight years in Liverpool, where she has become a well-known and respected member of the local community. She was detained by immigration officials in March and told she would be deported to The Gambia—despite warnings from her family and legal team that her life would be at risk if returned to the tiny West African country.
Tamba’s family say they have been targeted in The Gambia due to political associations with the former government. Her brother Lamin, a British citizen, has told UK media that several family members have faced persecution, including unlawful detention and violence. “If she is sent back, she will be at risk of kidnapping, false imprisonment, or death,” he said.
Campaigners have rallied behind Ms. Tamba, citing her deep roots in the UK, including her British partner and teenage son. Her legal team has also submitted evidence of her ongoing medical issues, which include diabetes and depression, arguing that deportation would violate her rights and pose serious health risks.
Despite these concerns, the Home Office pressed ahead with plans to remove Ms. Tamba from the country. A deportation flight in April was cancelled just hours before takeoff. Over the weekend, she was suddenly transferred from Derwentside Immigration Centre in the North East to Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire—a move often used in preparation for imminent deportation.
On Tuesday, she was transported to the airport for a flight to The Gambia via Turkey, scheduled for 4:40 p.m. That flight, however, was again cancelled without explanation, and Ms. Tamba was returned to detention at Yarl’s Wood.
“We have sought more legal advice and the law firm cannot understand why they want to remove her when she has very strong ties here,” said her brother. “They can’t understand why the Home Office refused her latest applications.”
Ms. Tamba’s case has ignited local support in Liverpool and among UK-based Gambians, many of whom are calling for a more compassionate approach to immigration policy and a recognition of the dangers some individuals face upon return to countries with histories of political persecution.
As of now, her future remains uncertain. Her supporters continue to press for her release and the right to remain in the country she has called home for nearly two decades.
