Icelanders Demand End To Deportations Of Families

Hundreds of Icelanders have already pledged to convene at Government Offices to demand an end to deportations: specifically, regarding asylum seekers with children, some of whom were born in Iceland, who nonetheless face deportation.

The demonstration will take place at the Government Offices at Lækjartorg, this Thursday, at 16:30. In a statement from No Borders Iceland, they cite two examples of families facing deportation, including Regina Osarumaese and her children. Not only was Regina’s youngest child, Felix, born in Iceland; Regina is also pregnant with a third child, and although she will require a Cesarean for that child’s birth, the entire family still faces deportation to Italy, where they no one and have nowhere to stay.

(Video: No Borders)

“The head of asylum matters at the Icelandic Red Cross has declared her worries about the situation of unaccompanied minors in Iceland and the Ombudsman for Children in Iceland has stated her concerns about the conduct of the authorities,” organisers point out. “By their actions Icelandic authorities continue to violate the UN convention on the Rights of the Child as well as domestic law.”

As such, organisers are calling upon the general public to take part in a show of solidarity for these families.

“The families have lived here for two years and three out of the four young children were born in Iceland, all of them unfamiliar with life outside of the country,” the statement continues. “The families wait for their cases to be heard in District Court but have been ordered to leave Iceland before their cases will be heard. We condemn the unnecessary and ruthless actions of the authorities against these families and we demand that their deportations will be cancelled immediately. We demand that the families will be provided the opportunity to continue building their lives in Iceland in peace, in accordance with their modest wishes.”

Related:

Why Does This Keep Happening? A Closer Look At The Directorate Of Immigration