Dublin City University student, Shepherd Machaya’s deportation order to Zimbabwe has been extended after extensive campaigning by the university, according to DCU’s Student Union President, Vito Moloney-Burke.
Management of Information Technology and Information Systems student, Machaya heard last Wednesday in a meeting with Garda National Immigration Bureau that his deportation order had been extended until February after extensive campaigning lead by the DCU Student Union.
DCU students are campaigning for Charlie Flanagan, Minister of Justice and Equality to review the deportation order through protest outside the Department of Justice and Equality, through petitioning, and by using social media to raise awareness.
On twitter, videos and tweets were made with #SaveOurSheperd, and on Facebook students placed a filter on their profile picture with the same hashtag.
His initial deportation order intended to remove him by October 21. However, the petition stated that the deportation would put him in danger of torture from his local political group who were the reason he fled to Ireland.
“Like all students, he should be afforded the right to complete the studies he has thrived in thus far.” It said.
DCU also released an open letter to Charlie Flanagan explaining Machaya’s situation, and the dangers that deportation would place him in.
DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith and many other Universities’ Student Unions also called on Flanagan to review the deportation.
In a letter by University of Limerick’s Student Union they recognized the deportation’s extension but asked Flanagan to, “…permanently revoke the deportation order to allow Shepherd continue as a valued member of society.”
Following the announcement of the extension Vito Moloney Burke said to Trinity News, “There has been a very positive step today, but it’s still bittersweet.”
He added that, “We are working very hard still. We have great legal advice – I suppose the very next step is to meet up with a team of advisors on the best approach for the next few days and, indeed, the next few weeks. Our diligent campaign team, they’ll have a few days off while we can gather ourselves together before the next strike kicks off.”