UNHAPPY: The Cuni family Family devastated by asylum u-turn A FAMILY of asylum seekers who were allowed to return to Hag Fold less than a week ago have been whisked away from their home again in an early morning raid by immigration officials. This latest swoop has crushed the jubilant mood which followed the return of Marc Cuni, 36, his wife Leze, 37, and their four children to their Everest Road home.
The popular Albanian couple and their children Valentin, 11, Rita, seven, Kristjan, four, and Reena, six months, were greeted with banners, bunting and food parcels by neighbours and friends after they were released from Yarlswood Detention Centre in Bedford.
But on Tuesday morning, despite seeking a judicial review of Mr Cuni's case and his wife lodging an asylum appeal in her own right, the family were taken to a location in Manchester with little time to gather their personal possessions.
The family, who were given a last minute reprieve from deportation to Albania just last week, were hoping the review would grant them the right to stay indefinitely.
But after the case was concluded it is believed they will be sent to Yarlswood once again and could face deportation to Albania within several days if there is no intervention by Immigration minister Tony McNulty.
"The officials literally dragged the kids from their beds, the same as before and were rough-handed which was totally inappropriate. The threat of deportation has had a terrible effect on the kids, it is tantamount to child abuse.
"These kids don't really know anywhere else other than this country. It is so unfortunate as they are a lovely family, with pleasant kids who fitted in round here nicely. Everyone is totally devastated in this community – there is not a dry eye down here today."
Lib Dem councillor for Atherton David Higginbottom said Mr Cuni had told him the family were "severely upset and devastated" by the latest development in their case which meant their Home Office application had been rejected.
Coun Higginbottom said: "We will fight to keep them in Manchester for the time being and if they are sent to Yarlswood we will lobby to stop them being deported.
"The Cunis appear to be very genuine people who make an easy target for the government's current immigration policy because they are doing things the right way and have complied with everything that has been asked of them, including remaining at their registered address.
"This family are so popular and so well liked that we really want them to stay in Hag Fold where they belong and where they are valuable members of the community.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "The Government has made it clear that it take a robust approach to removing people from the country where they have no legal right to be here.
"Removing failed asylum seekers is a key part of our work to ensure effective immigration controls and removal is undertaken in the most sensitive and safe way possible."
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