A protest will take place on Wednesday at 12.30 from Merrion Square in support of Michael Usiku who is facing a threat of deportation.
The staff and students of Carlow College, St Patrick’s are calling on the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan to review the deportation case of a 1st year student, Michael Usiku.
Michael came to study in Ireland five years ago but the two private colleges he attended in Dublin both closed down before he could complete his degree. Michael applied for a place in Carlow College on the Social, Political and Community Studies programme so he could qualify and return to his native Malawi and work as a community worker. However, his application for an extension to his student visa was denied, simply because the offer from Carlow College didn’t arrive in time.
Michael was served with a deportation order last week by the Department of Justice, stating that he must leave Ireland by 29th December 2019. Only the Minister can revoke the deportation order and time is of the essence. Michael is not a burden on the state and has self-financed his education in Ireland to date. The staff and students in Carlow College are calling on Minister Flanagan to review Michael’s case and lift the deportation order until he completes his degree.
The campaign has garnered support locally and nationally, with the online petition gathering over 1000 signatures in just five days. On Monday 9th Carlow County Council passed an emergency motion to write to the Minister for Justice to ask for the deportation order to be reversed. The Union of Students in Ireland, which is the national representative body for third level students in Ireland, is also calling on Minister Flanagan to revoke the deportation order.
