Face of Nation : A Tamil family taken from the central Queensland town of Biloela is messaging supporters hourly due to fears they are at imminent risk of deportation.
Supporters of the so-called “Biloela family” say immigration officials have decided not to assess whether their two-year-old Australian born child faces dangers if deported to Sri Lanka.
Their children, Kopika and Tharunicaa, were born in Australia. Friends say there are fears Nadesalingam’s life could be in danger if he is sent back to Sri Lanka due to his links to the Tamil Tiger separatist group.
The family lost a High Court bid in May to stay in Australia, after they were taken from their home in 2018 when their temporary bridging visa expired. They are in a detention centre in Victoria as supporters have been campaigning for Immigration Minister David Coleman to let the family stay.
An immigration assessment of the dangers that Tharunicaa, 2, may face in Sri Lanka was considered to be the asylum seeking family’s last hope of remaining in Australia.
The decision to not assess the potential dangers to Nadesalingam, coupled with a health check on the family by authorities on Wednesday, has supporters concerned the family could be deported very soon.
Campaigner for the family Angela Fredericks says they are messaging her hourly from the detention centre because “we don’t know what could happen”. Ms Fredericks has again called on Mr Coleman to use his powers to intervene. She says authorities have been tight-lipped on the issue.
Mr Coleman last week intervened to allow a family facing deportation to Singapore to stay in the Victorian city of Warrnambool.
