Thanks to everyone’s solidarity, love and support, Fatou’s deportation was cancelled at the 11th hour today, on 6 May 2025. We do not have all the details, but for today, we know she is safe in the UK. We understand that she has been taken back to Yarls Wood detention centre, after today’s ordeal at Heathrow Airport. 

First of all, we would like to send our sincere thanks and gratitude to every single person who has taken action to support Fatou. Today was an incredibly tense day – starting with Fatou being moved from Yarls Wood detention centre to the Heathrow Airport in the middle of the night. We needed everyone’s support but were unable to communicate clearly and speedily with our supporters, because it was difficult – in fact impossible – for Fatou to find out what was happening to her and when, which only increased her distress. 

While Fatou’s family continued to pursue legal avenues to stop Fatou’s deportation, many of you wrote to your MPs asking them to intervene, urged airline companies not to carry her and made your way to the airport, planning to explain to other passengers about Fatou’s plight. Fatou’s family said ‘No action was too small – and we are very grateful to each one of you.’ 

Secondly – Fatou’s fight is not over. While we await further information about her case, please continue to sign the petition and stay alert for future updates and actions. 

Lastly, we are acutely aware that this is not just about Fatou. The UK government continues to pursue its policy of ramping up detention and deportation. Psychological and emotional toll this campaign has taken on our communities of people seeking asylum and migrants has been enormous. But we feel hope in our solidarity. Right to Remain and These Walls Must Fall have been proud to work with allies and we will continue to build power to create a society that protects us all. 

We will issue more updates in due course. 

In solidarity, 

Right to Remain team 

PS – This has been a real collective effort. Shout out to Migrants Organise, WAST, Solidarity Knows No Borders Merseyside, No To Hassockfield Campaign, 4 Wings, Refugee Women Connect, Action Against Detention and Deportation, Black Lives Matter UK, Patients Not Passports, MEDACT, Abolish Reporting and many others. And of course Fatou and her family.