An Indian-origin family of a teenager who came close to being deported from the UK on her own are to be sent back to Mauritius after losing their appeal.
The Bageerathi family's case came to light last week when it emerged that the eldest daughter, Yashika, was due to be separated from her family and deported alone because she was considered an adult.
She was given what appeared to be a last-minute reprieve yesterday when it was claimed that British Airways had refused to put her on its flight and she was returned to a detention centre, the Guardian reported.
But the family's celebrations were short-lived, as later the same day it was announced that the whole family was to be sent back to Mauritius.
Solicitors working on Yashika's case were told that it had been rejoined with that of the rest of her family, and that the appeal against their deportation had been rejected.
Yesterday, the news was broken to teachers and friends of two of the family's three children at the Oasis Academy Hadley, in north who have led a campaign to block the deportation supported by more than 100,000 people.
Headteacher Lynne Dawes said she thought the move was an attempt to dismiss their argument that deporting Yashika would split up her family.
"I'm not proud of my country treating people in this way," she said. "Her mother is not coping, she's really struggling and is very tearful".
The family, including Yashika's mother Sowbhagyawatee, 38, sister Shaivya, 16 and brother Cherish, 11, will now be deported.
Yashika's case also attracted support in Westminster.
Conservative MP David Burrowes made a plea to the Home Office on her behalf.
He said that British Airways had refused to deport the teenager yesterday afternoon, leading to her being sent back to Yarl's Wood detention centre, in Bedfordshire.
The family came to the UK in 2012, fleeing violent threats from a family member.
The shadow immigration minister, David Hanson, called at the weekend for the family's case to be reconsidered.
A student at her school said that he phoned the office of Hanson's opposite number, the Conservative immigration minister James Brokenshire, and was told they were "supportive" of the campaign to keep Yashika in the country.
A Home Office spokesman said, "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we consider every application on its individual merits. We do not routinely comment on individual cases.
