Pedro iss an Angolan man who, as a child, lost both his parents and was
separated from his 7 siblings in a UNITA attack on his village. He was taken
to a government orphanage where he lived until he was 16 when he became
eligible for compulsory military service. In his service, he was ordered to
work as an informant for the police. He opposed this, as he witnessed the
intelligence he gathered being used to kill people from the Bakongo ethnic
group. He was arrested by the police, accused of being a government
opponent, detained in prison for 8 months and tortured. He became so
unwell that he was transferred to a military hospital for medical treatment.
Whilst he was in hospital he escaped, went into hiding and made
arrangements to flee Angola.
Pedro arrived in the UK and applied for asylum in 2000. He was 21 years old
at that time. Miraculously through the Angolan community and a Pentecostal
church he attended in Manchester he was reunited with his elder brother
(whom he had not seen for 7 years) Lucio in 2001! Lucio was married with
children, so Pedro felt that he had family life again for the first time in years.
Lucio was recognised as a refugee in the UK and granted indefinite leave to
remain. Whereas in 2002, Pedro was refused asylum and had his appeal
against the Home Office decision dismissed. Pedro made, and lost, two
further appeals. In 2004 the GMIAU was successful in stopping him being
removed and getting his case looked at again.
In 2005 Pedro married a Congolese woman called Carrine whom he met at
his church. We made further representations to the Home Office on the
grounds of Pedro’s established family and private life with Carrine in the UK.
The Home Office rejected these so we appealed, but the judge dismissed
his appeal, but we applied for Review/Reconsideration of his decision.
In January 2007 Pedro’s barrister argued that the Home Office had acted
unlawfully and that his appeal should be allowed on this basis, and because
of his strong family ties in the UK. The judge allowed his appeal on both
grounds and directed the Home Office to grant Pedro indefinite leave to
remain in the UK. Pedro and Carrine had a baby son in February 2008 to
celebrate!
separated from his 7 siblings in a UNITA attack on his village. He was taken
to a government orphanage where he lived until he was 16 when he became
eligible for compulsory military service. In his service, he was ordered to
work as an informant for the police. He opposed this, as he witnessed the
intelligence he gathered being used to kill people from the Bakongo ethnic
group. He was arrested by the police, accused of being a government
opponent, detained in prison for 8 months and tortured. He became so
unwell that he was transferred to a military hospital for medical treatment.
Whilst he was in hospital he escaped, went into hiding and made
arrangements to flee Angola.
Pedro arrived in the UK and applied for asylum in 2000. He was 21 years old
at that time. Miraculously through the Angolan community and a Pentecostal
church he attended in Manchester he was reunited with his elder brother
(whom he had not seen for 7 years) Lucio in 2001! Lucio was married with
children, so Pedro felt that he had family life again for the first time in years.
Lucio was recognised as a refugee in the UK and granted indefinite leave to
remain. Whereas in 2002, Pedro was refused asylum and had his appeal
against the Home Office decision dismissed. Pedro made, and lost, two
further appeals. In 2004 the GMIAU was successful in stopping him being
removed and getting his case looked at again.
In 2005 Pedro married a Congolese woman called Carrine whom he met at
his church. We made further representations to the Home Office on the
grounds of Pedro’s established family and private life with Carrine in the UK.
The Home Office rejected these so we appealed, but the judge dismissed
his appeal, but we applied for Review/Reconsideration of his decision.
In January 2007 Pedro’s barrister argued that the Home Office had acted
unlawfully and that his appeal should be allowed on this basis, and because
of his strong family ties in the UK. The judge allowed his appeal on both
grounds and directed the Home Office to grant Pedro indefinite leave to
remain in the UK. Pedro and Carrine had a baby son in February 2008 to
celebrate!
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Immigration Aid Manchester
Independent legal advice & representation from the
Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
Independent legal advice & representation from the
Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
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