Justice for Bumi

JUSTICE For BUMI

Bumi Thomas was born in Glasgow and is a hardworking Multidisciplinary Artist Based in London, who has enriched the British Art, Music and Culture Landscape with her talent. She identifies as British, and over the last 18 years has built a life here, with friends, family, work and social commitments and been shaped by the culture, been to college and university in the UK, voted, worked and paid taxes.

Bumi was taken to Nigeria as a minor at age 3 by her father and she returned as soon as she was old enough to get a passport of her own at age 18. She returned to the UK with the belief she was British with dual nationality and acted accordingly. Her national Insurance number issued at birth meant she could work legally without any restrictions. It wasn’t until she was 25 after university when she applied for her British passport and she was informed that her Father had never registered her as British which became a legal requirement 5 months before her birth. Bumi was told that her case was complex, a ‘Border Native’ outside the system and she was sanctioned for technically overstaying in the UK in an illegal capacity. This meant that she was told that "normal" immigration criteria no longer applied and she must use complex human rights provisions "outside the immigration system" This was the start of an exhausting and expensive 10 year battle that has resulted in a refusal for either discretionary or indefinite Leave to remain in June 2019 but with the right to Appeal.



I applied for Settlement in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in Nov 2018 Which was refused on the 7th of June 2019. I have grounds for an appeal which must be filed by Friday the 21st of June, or face detention and possible deportation.

I was born in Glasgow in  June 1983 on the cusp of the British Nationality Act which  was enforced in January 1983.  So my identity came into question with the Nationality Act passed by Margaret Thatcher in January 1983 which states that children born to parents from the colonies are no longer entitled to automatic citizenship. This singular decision has caused a profound displacement in my psyche and on going reality where I have been relegated to the realm of a ‘Border Native’’ an official refugee in my own country.


Most of my life has been spent in the UK, it has been my home, the birthplace of my voice and evolution as an artist. My talents and  personal reality was nurtured here. This forced return will cause a rift in the fabric of who I am as a human being.It is firmly rooted in the  The UK Home Office hostile environment policy, a set of administrative and legislative measures designed to make staying in the United Kingdom as difficult as possible for people without leave to remain, in the hope that they may "voluntarily leave”. The policy also implemented a more complicated application process to get 'leave to remain' based on the principle of 'deport first, appeal later', whilst encouraging voluntary deportation though strategies including "Go Home" vans as part of "Operation Vaken"


A 2018 governmental review revealed the Home Office had tried to deport at least 300 highly skilled migrants (including teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers and IT professionals) under the 322(5) provision, at least 87 successfully. This mostly affected people who had lived in the UK for more than 10 years and have children born in the UK. Many were given only 14 days to leave the UK and were made ineligible to apply for visas to return. The review found that 65% of 322(5) decisions were overturned by an upper tribunal and 45% of applicants for judicial review were successful (28% of judicial reviews find in favour of the defendant). Additionally the review found that 32% of "complex cases" were wrongly decided


I  really need your help and support to fight this decision, the funds  raised will be used to pay for the services of an experienced Immigration  Specialist who will draft a strong argument and file the appeal on my behalf on Human Rights Grounds.

This is a very time sensitive campaign as the  application MUST be submitted by this Friday the 21st of June. Please make a donation to my cause and advocate peace in the face of critical displacement.

Your support at the pivotal crossroads in my life is simply invaluable. I can only express the most sincere and profound gratitude for your presence and encouragement in my life, growth, art and journey.

I am very grateful for your help,generosity,  insights, energy and solidarity.

You are receiving this because you are considered a dear friend, family, contemporary and part of my community.You have touched my life in  a unique and long lasting way.

THANK YOU for your Contribution. We have reached the Initial GOAL of £4000.
After my Legal Consultation it was brought to my Attention that the Initial number did not include VAT and more cost could incurred so I have increased the Threshold and will keep you  posted on my progress.

Again My Profound Gratitude

Love and Solidarity, Bumi Thomas. xx

UPDATE 21/06/19:
We have just filed Stage one of The Appeal and are waiting to be allocated a court date. The battle continues and I will keep you informed as the process progresses.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! My Profound Gratitude to everyone who had stood by me, supported, donated, encouraged, shared and advocated !!
We have reached  and surpassed our target twice!! The Campaign #JusticeforBumi is trending, People are speaking up about the legal battles and injustice they have faced as a consequence of Immigration Reform. Thanks For your Good Will.


UPDATE 22/06/19:
I have decided to open the threshold to generate more  awareness,  creating spaces to interrogate the legality of displacement , the psychological  consequences and trauma caused by  institutional  hostility in response to migration and immigration in Britain. We have reached two amazing targets in a very short space of time,  yet the struggle continues... Let's  raise more funds and establish a precedent for long lasting change and positive  redirection.


Parliamentary Activity:
I was invited to the House of Lords to Speak with Lord Roger Roberts  of the Liberal Democrats Party to discuss my case , identify the paths to resolution and the raising of  Parliamentary questions around this policy.

PRESS
This campaign has generated Press interest opening up the doors for a wider conversation  about identity, Justice and the judiciary system, migration, Immigration, Mental Health Implications, alienation  and the Rights of Commonwealth Citizens in Modern day Britain.

Please see links to my Current Press and Radio Interviews below:

Article on the Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7171271/New-Windrush-farce-rising-jazz-star-born-Britain-Nigerian-parents-faces-deportation.html
Please Listen to  my Interview on BBC Radio 5 Live with Nihal Arthanayake  here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00061s9
Clash Music Article
https://www.clashmusic.com/news/london-artist-and-steam-down-affiliate-threatened-with-deportation 


.


Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Office_hostile_environment_policy