An Angolan family of asylum seekers who have been living in Waterford for four years have appealed to the Minister for Justice to reverse his decision to deport them.
Joao Pintu, his wife Julianna, and their two children, Jonathan (9) and Joao (12), have had their claims for asylum rejected and are due to be deported shortly.
However, the family, along with local people and union leaders, have called for the deportation decision to be reversed because of the roots the children have put down in the community.
Jonathan and Joao attend school at St Stephen's De La Salle and Mount Sion respectively. Their parents say they have integrated very well.
"Everything is good for them here. They are happy and have lots of friends. I don't want them to return home, where there will be no school for them. You can see the problems in Angola on the TV," said Joao Pintu, a carpenter.
The Waterford Council of Trade Unions has called for the family to be allowed to remain in the area.
WCTU president Tom Creedon said the case was similar to the deportation of Olukunle Elukanlo to Nigeria.
"Here we have a similar situation with an Angolan family with two young sons in full-time education who are popular with their teachers and fellow pupils. We are calling on Michael McDowell not to deprive these children of their education and separate them from their friends."
Thomas Erbsloh of the Waterford Against Racism group also voiced concern about the effect of "uprooting" the family.
The Department of Justice, however, says that any failed asylum seekers have their applications processed through two independent bodies.
Anyone about to be deported would have been aware well in advance that they faced being removed from the State, according to a department spokesman.
Meanwhile, a Kurdish mother and her two sons who have been living in Glounthaune, Co Cork, for almost three years may face deportation today. They are due to report to the headquarters of the Garda National Immigration Bureau this afternoon. People in the village have been campaigning for the family to be allowed to remain in the State.
