THE family of Ukrainian teenager Inna Haville who is facing deportation has been inundated with support in their campaign to keep her in the country.
Sevenhampton couple Mark and Melanie Haville rescued the 19-year-old from an orphanage three years ago and she is now like an older sister to their five other children.
The Home Office has refused the family's appeal for her to remain on compassionate grounds saying there are "no exceptionally compelling reasons" why Inna should stay.
Her story has touched the hearts of many Adver readers, evidence of which can be seen on the letters pages.
The family has received 250 messages of support since launching a website last week. Their campaign has caught the attention of the national media with the family appearing on ITV's This Morning programme last week.
Mark wants people to give their backing by attending a public meeting being organised by the Swindon Trades Union Council. He said: "At the meeting, we will be asking people what they think they can do to help.
"All of us have been very encouraged by all the response we have had.
"The letters page in the Evening Advertiser was really good. It is very much in keeping with comments people are emailing to the website."
Despite the support, the family are feeling the strain of playing the waiting game.
"We have heard nothing from the Home Office, which is what we expect," Mark added.
"It is just hanging over us, no date has been set for her departure. It could be any time, without any notice. The whole thing seems to bring to the surface big problems with the way the Government have handled it. It is about treating people as human beings.''
Inna, who changed her name from Melanych, has not lived with her biological family since she was 11 and has nothing to go back to. She was allowed to stay in the UK on a two-year student visa but was refused permanent residency. Mark says the ironic thing was they could have applied to renew her student visa and would probably have succeeded. The Havilles have tried every legal avenue to keep her in the country, but lost an appeal to challenge the Government's decision to deport her.
The meeting takes place on Tuesday at 7.30pm at the Friends' Meeting House in Eastcott Hill, Swindon.
Bhavani Vadde
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