A FAMILY at the centre of a national immigration row has been granted leave to remain in the country.
The news marks a victory for the thousands of people who have supported the Sukula family of Bolton.
Kiala Sukula, 45, and his wife Ngiedi, who have eight children, fled brutal civil war in the Congo in 2002 after Kiala was attacked for criticising the government.
Mum Ngiedi, 42, told how she was also viciously beaten by militiamen.
But the family, who settled in Great Lever, were immediately threatened with deportation. The Home Office twice rejected their claims that they would be killed if they were returned to the war-torn African country.
Searching for a better life
Now it has been revealed the entire family has been granted 'indefinite leave' to remain in the UK.
A letter sent to them from the Border and Immigration Agency said the decision was granted 'exceptionally' due to the 'strength' of the family's community connections and 'other compassionate circumstances'.
Neil McAlister, vice-chairman of the Sukula Must Stay Campaign, said: “The support from everyone has been great.
“The family are absolutely elated. This is the best legal outcome that the family could have hoped for.”
The family's eldest daughter Flores, 21, said: “My family can now plan its future.
“It is brilliant news. It is news we have been waiting so long to hear. The family want to thank the people of Bolton for their support.
“What they have done means the world to us and we would not be here without all their help.”
The family hit the headlines when their benefits were stopped for 18 months under controversial asylum legislation called section 9 – which was opposed and criticised as “immoral” by a group of Greater Manchester councils.
The couple's children would have been taken into care but, in a move that defied the Home Office legislation, Bolton council refused to evict them and the family have lived off donations from community and church groups ever since.
The future looks bright
The campaign was launched to secure their UK status and a huge petition was submitted to the government.
Hundreds of people took to the streets to march against the controversial legislation and the Sukula campaign was backed by star Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmonhalgh, who plays Hayley Cropper.
The family was one of the first to be affected by the legislation, which is since no longer implemented automatically.
Mr McAlister said: “Flores can now go to university and Kiala can work, which is what he has always wanted to do.
“It is absolutely fantastic for them. The people of Bolton really took this issue to their heart.”
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There is something just not right about this. And that thing is that there is no coordinated policy on immigration and emigration. It should never get to the point where five years after arrival the family are allowed to stay because of "community connections". Either the claim is accepted or not.
The problem is deeper than that. There are millions of people deserving of a chance to escape persecution. The whole of the Fur tribe in Darfur, any opposition in Zimbabwe, Muslims in China, ex members of the KGB who have fallen out with Putin. Members of Hamas in the West Bank. Members of Fatah in Gaza. The list is endless and basically accounts for any opposition to failed government. Not all are desirable citizens for the UK but all will face death and torture if they return to their original country.
A limit must be placed on genuine asylum seekers. All leave to remain must be temporary to such point as the situation resolves itself in their home country. Limits also need to be placed on EU immigrants. Benefits should not be payable other than an allowance for settlement and asylum seekers should be allowed to work. Cases should be dealt with quickly and the appropriate administration can be paid for out of the tax that all asylum seekers would be paying if they were allowed to work.
This governement has had no control of the borders of this country. They cannot tell you how many people have come and gone. They take years and years to process claims. They do not deport foreign criminals. They do not amend the infrastructure (schools housing roads healthcare) out of the additional taxes they have taken. They have given more ammunition to the BNP in the last 11 years than ever before. And they try and supress legitimate discussions by calling anybody a racist who wants to discuss it.
This is not fair. For the Sukula family they have a right to stay in the country.
"The couple's children would have been taken into care but, in a move that defied the Home Office legislation, Bolton council refused to evict them and the family have lived off donations from community and church groups ever since."
Despite the doom and gloom that exists on this site, and before the whole situation is dissected and analysed, just reading that put a smile on my face!
Totally agree with MC Spanner on this one. Whilst I sympathise with the sukula's wholeheartedly, there is always a story to be heard over why people cannot go back to their homeland. The trouble is, this country will soon buckle under the pressure of being home to so many people. Jobs will be none existant and the welfare state will be totally bankrupt.
A good news story and I am so pleased for this family. Lets hope more such families are allowed to stay.
On a more general point though, I think it's a disgrace how this country has so little compassion for Asylum Seekers - yet openly welcomes economic migrants. Britain made its wealth in the 18th & 19th centuries by "exploiting" poor countries - so to see rich countries, such as ours, today "stripping" poorer countries of their talent - stinks of greed! (As well as an excuse not to invest in the education & training of our own workforce!)
And also what I find really annoying, is constantly hearing rich business leaders on the BBC - demonizing the "white working classes" for having a poor work ethic & bad attitude, compared to newly arrived immigrants. (Yes unchallenged views, as heard on the Allan Beswick programme this past Saturday morning. Oh and how many Poles are working in jobs such as yours at BBC Radio Manchester then Allan?) According to some rich businessmen & farmers, you'd have thought the Brits had never seen a potato or strawberry, before 2004 when the Poles came here to pick them for us?? I'm sure these businesspeople would welcome the reintroduction of slavery - if they thought it would make them more profit & keep indigenous wages low??
So yes we should be doing more to help poor countries and welcome asylum seekers - but can the "pseudo liberal media classes" & business owners please stop demonizing the white working classes? (Although I suppose at least their policy of "fighting bigotry with bigotry" exposes them for what they really are - greedy hypocrites & snobs, phony liberals!)
sad News what happens in Congo. But not our business and they shouldnt be here. Next country along should be the way not easiest pushover
Yet more pressure on our resources.how much longer can this carry on without hitting us for yet more taxes.....
Remember labours rallying call "THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER" But they didnt say who for?.................
i live in Thailand and I have counted the amount of asylum seekers twice and there in none "0" the fact there is no welfare here as I am sure had nothing to do with this fact so if you don't work you don't eat.
I can only assume the that the UK is such as a paradise with the weather and the ambiance it is such a magnet for asylum seekers nothing at all to do with welfare payments but what do I know?
Whilst no decent person would want to see this family come to any harm, the problem is there are millions of people all over the third world who are in poverty or living under an oppressive regime who want to come here, but we are only a small island, already over-populated and are struggling to provide housing, health, education and welfare benefits to our own people!
The government are meant to look after British citizen's security and welfare first, however this government patently do not!
MC Spanner was spot on with his observations, we can't take the whole world into our island, these people should claim asylum near their country of origin not come half way round the world to claim it here.
When will the politicians learn most indigenous Britons have had enough of Mass immigration!
I agree with Proud Mancunian, sad news but the UK is full the NHS can not cope, the 3 emergency services are hurting under the pressure, our schools can not cope with the influx of kids. It would not be that bad but most of the illegal immigrants and legal ones are on benefits, I know a lot work but more live of the social (as proved by the article)