'We are praying that this nightmare will end' - Shrewsbury groom vows to fight his bride-to-be’s deportation

Pauline Taylor, a 43-year-old Jamaican national has been with her partner Grahame French in Shrewsbury for more than two years.

She was detained on September 15 and has been suffering serious ill health while in the detention centre.

Grahame, who she was due to marry today, said he is concerned for her wellbeing while in custody.

Pauline, who made her own wedding dress, chose the venue and planned every last detail of her big day, has no family or relatives in Jamaica and has lived legally in the UK with her two daughters, aged 31 and 26, for more than 16 years.

The former carer attended a monthly asylum meeting with the Home Office in Solihull but was suddenly detained and told her application for temporary leave to stay had been refused.

She was then transferred to Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedford.

“She was told she could be deported to Jamaica within a week,” said Grahame, a planner for Shropshire Council.

“We received permission on August 21 to marry and had a date set for the wedding.

“The decision to refuse her application makes no reference to the Home Office’s own marriage approval, our imminent marriage plans and disregards the two years we have lived together.

“These are all factors will confer eligibility for ‘leave to remain’.”

Grahame added that he and Pauline’s family had been left devastated by the situation.

“We are still in shock and sick with worry,” he said.

“Pauline has suffered serious physical and mental deterioration.

“It took 10 days for her to see a mental health nurse and there is a further three week wait for more treatment.

“I worry that she will not survive this, that she will die in custody.

“She is a good person, she goes to church, she does not deserve this.”

A request for temporary leave had been made so the wedding, at Shrewsbury Registry Office, could go ahead but the couple say they have received no response.

“We are praying that this nightmare will end soon and she will be allowed out, at least temporarily, on bail so her loving family and I can help her recover at home,” said Grahame.

And he believes that the order to detain Pauline comes from the need of the Government to boost its deportation statistics.

“The Government need to be able to say they have deported X number of immigrants.

“It looks good on their statistics.

“They need to be seen as being more vigilant but, in this case, they have got it badly wrong.”

Pauline’s case has been brought to the attention of Daniel Kawczynski. MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, who has been in contact with the family.

Daniel said that his office would be making representations to the Home Office on the behalf of the family but would not be able to ‘influence’ the department.

A Home Office spokesman said: “All visa applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the immigration rules.

“We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”