Young man raised in Britain facing deportation back to Tanzania

A man raised in the UK is facing deportation back to Tanzania despite not having lived there since he was a child.

20-year-old Hamim Ali has been told he can no longer stay in the UK and is currently in a detention centre awaiting deportation.

He was raised by foster parents in Gateshead, from the age of 12, after leaving Africa as a youngster.

Hamim left Tanzania when he was just seven-years-old and lived on the streets in Kenya for five years before arriving in the UK on a boat with his brother.

After completing his A Levels at Joseph Swan Academy in Gateshead, where he was highly favoured by members of staff, Hamim went on to study Sports Science at Newcastle College.

He has also been an active member of the city’s Culture and Diversity project, teaching young people about other cultures.

Hamim has been in the deportation centre since last Thursday (Oct 1) and the decision as to whether he will be able to stay in the UK is due to be made on Monday (Oct 12).

A petition has been set up by Josephine Mudzingwa Siziba whose son Marshal, 21, is best friends with Hamim, to try and prevent him from being deported.

Since October 3, over 3,000 supporters have signed the petition which is to be handed by Josephine to Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah to pass on to Home Secretary Theresa May.