An Asylum Seeker's Fight

An Asylum Seeker's Fight

The photo-journalist from Cameroon who grabbed national headlines has come back to his wife, Sharon in Sheffield and told the Huffington Post that he is "fine and it is so good to be home", Bernard added that "being with your family one week and then in detention the next was just emotionally draining".

The fate of Bernard is yet fully unknown however with recent support from Amnesty international, he is looking to gain full family status as a husband and father of British citizens and his wife Sharon stated "things are moving forward and finally looking up".

Pending judicial review, Bernard should have leave to remain in the UK and has been released without bail and both Sharon and Bernard say "this would not be possible if it was not for the support of so many".

Bernard's case is bucking a trend, where previously those entering the UK illegally would have to return to their countries if not granted continued asylum.

The Immigration Act 1971 section 3 allows the Secretary of State to have people in the UK deported, who are not British citizens, if the Secretary of State deems that to be conducive to the public good.

However, this can be appealed under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 on the basis that deportation would be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, with Bernard facing potential torture, mutilation and or death on returning to Cameroon due to his taking of photographs of protests against the Cameroonian government, his case has some weight and it is yet to be seen what the final outcome will be.

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